Napoli have placed a €10 million valuation on striker Romelu Lukaku as they look to remove his substantial wages from the payroll, though a clause favouring Chelsea means the Italian club must secure a higher fee to maximise their return.
The Serie A side are eager to offload the Belgium international, who earns approximately €12.5 million in the final year of his contract. Napoli paid €30.7 million to sign him permanently in 2024 following loan spells with Inter Milan and Roma, but the relationship has deteriorated significantly.
Broken bridges in Naples
Last season, Lukaku angered the club by travelling to Belgium for injury treatment and rehabilitation using his own physiotherapist rather than the club’s medical staff. The recent departure of head coach Antonio Conte, with whom Lukaku enjoyed a strong working relationship, has further reduced the player’s incentive to remain at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Chelsea complication
The financial mechanics of any transfer present a significant obstacle. Chelsea retain a 30 per cent sell-on clause from Lukaku’s previous transfer, though this only triggers if the sale reaches €15 million. Consequently, Napoli must either accept a lower gross fee or negotiate above that threshold to avoid sharing proceeds with the London club.
What happens next
Reports indicate interest from Major League Soccer clubs in the United States, the Saudi Pro League and Lukaku’s boyhood club RSC Anderlecht. A return to Belgium appears less probable than a move to North America or the Middle East.
At 33 years old, Lukaku faces uncertain prospects in European top-flight football. Napoli’s willingness to accept a substantial loss on their initial investment after just one season underscores their determination to cut costs and reshape the squad under new management.