AS Roma signed Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The Seria A side officially confirmed the move on Thursday.
The agreement between Roma and Chelsea doesn’t include a clause for a permanent transfer, meaning that Lukaku will return to London once the 2023-24 season wraps up.
Lukaku spent the last season on loan with Inter Milan, where he scored 14 goals and dished seven assists in all competitions. Inter was initially keen on bringing back the 30-year-old but pulled out of transfer talks with Chelsea this summer after Lukaku reportedly flirted with joining their bitter rivals Juventus.
Chelsea preferred to let Lukaku leave for a transfer fee, but the lack of interest made them reconsider their stance. Roma, in need of a striker, pushed hard to sign the player, and the two clubs ended up striking a loan agreement.
Lukaku is expected to help Roma survive the absence of the club’s star striker, Tammy Abraham, who is dealing with a serious knee injury and won’t be available at the start of the season.
“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 after his move to Roma was completed. “As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico and felt the warmth of the Romanisti.”
