Napoli sign Lukaku from Chelsea in a £30m deal

Italian Serie A side Napoli have signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea in a £30m deal.

Chelsea have offloaded two of the players they want out of the club, with Romelu Lukaku joining Napoli in an initial €30m (£25.2m) deal and Kepa Arrizabalaga moving to Bournemouth on a season’s loan.

Lukaku rejoined Chelsea three years ago for a club record £97.5m but has spent the past two seasons on loan in Italy and has been reunited at Napoli with Antonio Conte, under whom he thrived at Internazionale from 2019 to 2021.

Lukaku scored 24 league goals as he won Serie A under Conte in 2021, with his form sparking Chelsea's decision to recruit him.

Disposing of the Belgian – who has not played for Chelsea since May 2022 – gets his £325,000-a-week wages off the books.

Speaking in a pre-match news conference, Conte said Lukaku could make his Napoli debut in Saturday's game against Parma.

Lukaku's departure comes as Chelsea midfielder Tino Anjorin also moves to Italy's Serie A, joining Empoli on a three-year deal.

Chelsea and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli are both in talks to sign Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, which will help Napoli offset their spending.