Roma have signed striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The Belgium international, who previously worked with Roma head coach Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, returned to the Premier League side earlier this summer after a season in Italy with Inter Milan.
Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto and Ryan Friedkin, the son of their owner, jetted into London for talks over Lukaku on Friday and have struck a deal that will see the 30-year-deal spend the year back in Serie A.
“The welcome I’ve received from this club and its fans has excited me and given me even more motivation to give my all for my new team,” Lukaku said on his move. “As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, and felt the warmth of the Romanisti.
“It’s nice to know I’m a part of it today. I recently got the opportunity to speak with the owners, and I was impressed by their ambition. Now we must work, be humble, and grow game by game. For my part, I can’t wait to be available to my teammates both on and off the pitch.”
Chelsea rejected Inter Milan’s bid for the Belgian international last month, with the Premier League side seeking a fee in the region of €45m.
But they have agreed to sanction a temporary exit this summer, with Roma finalising a loan move after holding talks in London with their Chelsea counterparts.
Lukaku, who joined Chelsea from Inter for £97.5m two years ago, spent last season back on loan at the Serie A side following a disappointing 2021-22 campaign at Chelsea, where he scored 15 goals in 44 matches in all competitions.
In 2022-23, Lukaku scored 14 times in 37 games for Inter, who reached the Champions League final and finished third in Serie A.
(Photo: Getty Images)
