Romelu Lukaku: The journeyman footballer

The transfer history of Romelu Lukaku reads like a laundry list of Europe’s top clubs.

Lukaku signing for Napoli, recently

With a total spend of $415M on his services, the Belgian striker has become one of the most expensive players in history.

But beneath the staggering figures lies a story of a journeyman footballer, constantly on the move, never staying in one club for too long.

He was born on May 13, 1993, in Antwerp, Belgium, to Congolese parents. His father, Roger Lukaku, and his mother, Adolphine Lukaku, are from the same country.

Lukaku began his professional career at Rupel Boom before joining Lierse SK and eventually Anderlecht. His impressive form at Anderlecht earned him a move to Chelsea in 2011 for $17M.

However, Lukaku struggled to establish himself at Stamford Bridge, leading to loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Everton.

The Toffees made the move permanent in 2014, shelling out $40M. During his time at Everton, Lukaku developed into one of the Premier League’s top strikers, scoring 87 goals in 133 appearances.

Lukaku’s time at Everton earned him a $95M move to Manchester United in 2017. Although he scored 42 goals in 96 appearances, he failed to consider Old Trafford as a place to stay put, and he was shipped out to Inter Milan for $83M in 2019.

At Inter Milan, Lukaku found his form again, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances and leading the Nerazzurri to their first Serie A title in 11 years.

However, his time in Milan was short-lived, as he returned to Chelsea in 2021 for a whopping $127M.

Lukaku’s second stint at Chelsea was disappointing, scoring just eight goals in 26 appearances.

He was subsequently loaned out to Inter Milan and then Roma before making a permanent switch to Napoli for $33M in 2024.

Throughout his journey, Lukaku has consistently shown his goal-scoring prowess, netting over 200 goals for club and country.

He has also been capped 102 times for Belgium, scoring 68 goals and representing the Red Devils at two World Cups and two European Championships.

Despite his impressive statistics, Lukaku’s inability to settle at a single club has raised questions about his attitude, longevity and adaptability. As the football world continues to spend top dollar on his services, one can’t help but wonder if Lukaku will ever find his forever home.

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