Chelsea and Inter Milan have agreed on a loan deal for Romelu Lukaku to return to Italy, The Athletic reports.
Chelsea’s club-record signing for £100 million ($136 million) will leave for a loan fee of €8 million (£7 million/$8 million), with the possibility of earning more through performance-related add-ons.
Lukaku is set to undergo a medical next week before returning to the club he helped win the Serie A title with in the 2020-21 season.
Inter will have no option or obligation to purchase Lukaku after his loan term.
The transfer’s paperwork is still being finalised, and the relationship between Michael Yormark, president of Roc Nation, who represents Lukaku, and Todd Boehly, a new co-owner of Chelsea, has been crucial to the deal’s success.
Lukaku’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 2026.
Romelu Lukaku returns to Inter, here we go and confirmed! Full agreement now signed on loan deal until June 2023, €8 loan fee plus add-ons. ⚫️🔵 #CFC #Inter
▫️ Lukaku’s salary will be around €8m.
▫️ NO buy option or obligation clause.
▫️ Add-ons related to team performances. pic.twitter.com/3sEeQtfXs0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2022
How Can Chelsea Justify Losing Such A Major Signing For So Little?
Todd Boehly prioritised the discussions surrounding Lukaku to get Chelsea’s summer off to a strong start.
After a falling out between the striker and manager Thomas Tuchel, the Blues were eager to get his club-high £325,000-per-week pay off their books.
Despite Chelsea effectively paying Lukaku to play for Inter with yearly instalments set at €23 million (£20 million/$24 million), Lukaku still chose to sign with Inter.
Roc Nation, Jay-sports Z’s agency, assisted in facilitating talks between their client, Lukaku, and Boehly, with whom they’ve previously collaborated extensively.
The agreement demonstrates that Boehly and the new Blues consortium are fully supporting Tuchel in spite of the expenses.
Chelsea will now try to add a fresh attacking signing, with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling said to be a frontrunner to join the club.
There is an inside option for Armando Broja, who is on loan from Southampton, but West Ham is interested in signing him for £30 million ($37 million).
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