Chelsea allows Romelu Lukaku to join Roma on loan
Romelu Lukaku has made a move from Chelsea to Roma on a season-long loan. The deal involves a fee of around £7m to £8m, depending on performance-related conditions. Roma has agreed to cover Lukaku’s wages after the striker agreed to take a salary cut for the remaining three years of his Chelsea contract. Additionally, Lukaku’s contract includes a release clause estimated to be worth £38m.
This loan reunites Lukaku with former Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho, who led Roma to the Europa League final last season. Representatives from Roma, Ryan Friedkin, and Tiago Pinto, traveled to London to discuss the deal with Chelsea in person before finalizing the agreement.
Lukaku’s loan to Roma comes after spending the previous season on loan at Inter Milan. The Belgian striker had fallen out of favor at Chelsea following a controversial interview in which he expressed his discontent under former head coach Thomas Tuchel. Lukaku’s desire to return to Italy played a significant role in his decision to join Roma and reunite with Mourinho.
During the summer transfer window, Juventus and Inter also expressed interest in signing Lukaku. Even Saudi side Al Hilal showed interest in acquiring the 30-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Inter for a fee of £97.5m in August 2021.
For the latest updates on the summer transfer window, stay tuned to Sky Sports. Follow our Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms to keep up with all the news, rumors, and analysis. Don’t miss out on the deadline day moves, as the transfer window closes at 11 pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland.