Lukaku ‘more mature’ on Chelsea return
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Romelu Lukaku for a club record £97.5 million in a five-year deal.
The 28-year-old striker is not expected to be in the squad for their opening Premier League fixture at home to Crystal Palace tomorrow.
In their announcement, Chelsea spoke of Lukaku having “unfinished business”.
According to the Premier League website, the striker has taken the No18 shirt – the number he was awarded during his previous spell at the club, which ended with him frustrated and demanding a move.
There had been an expectation that Lukaku would take the No9, but Tammy Abraham is yet to agree an exit from Chelsea despite Roma pushing for a deal to be struck, having met the £34million asking price, albeit initially through a loan move.
“It’s been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I’m coming back with a lot of experience and more mature,” Lukaku said.
“The relationship I have with the club means so much to me, as you know. I have supported Chelsea as a kid, and now to be back and to try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea seasonticket holders face missing out on the Palace game because of delays in installing rail seating at Stamford Bridge. The club have been working around the clock to complete the work and will announce this afternoon whether the ground will be at full capacity against Palace.
But they warned yesterday that some spectators could miss out, particularly those in the Matthew Harding Lower Stand in blocks 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 and are promising to compensate those affected.
A club statement said: “We sincerely apologise for this situation, we should have done better.”