Everton have made a club record signing of £28m for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku
The 21-year-old Belgian forward, who scored 16 goals on loan at Everton last season, has signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez said: “This signing is not just important for this season. It is a significant day in the history of this football club.”
Lukaku joined Chelsea from Anderlecht for £18m in August 2011 but played only 15 games for the club.
After signing his contract at Goodison, Lukaku said: “I’m 21, I need to be playing in a good team. I needed to be in a place that felt right.
“I decided very quickly I wanted to come back. This is the place I belong.”
Lukaku’s transfer breaks the previous record of £15m for Marouane Fellaini when he joined Everton from Standard Liege in 2008.
It was originally thought Everton would pay £23.7m for Lukaku before the club revealed the £28m fee. Chelsea believe the transfer puts them in a strong position to comply with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who has now brought in £68m after the sale of Lukaku and defender David Luiz said: “He wanted to play for Chelsea but wanted to be the first-choice striker. That’s very difficult to promise.
“Everton made an important offer and financial fair play is something that is always behind the thoughts of the board. This leaves Chelsea in a great position.”
Martinez said: “We know that Romelu is still a young man and the potential that he has is quite unique, and we are desperate to see him enjoying his football and to watch him grow as footballer in the years to come.”
