New Chapter in Istanbul

Fenerbahce have officially completed the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Napoli on a permanent deal. The Belgian international striker has committed to a one-year contract at the Istanbul-based club, which includes an option for a further 12 months.

The move follows a period of transition at Napoli, who recently secured the permanent signing of Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United for €44million (£38m; $51.4m) after a successful loan spell, effectively paving the way for Lukaku's exit.

A Summer of Reinforcement

Lukaku arrives as part of an ambitious recruitment drive by Fenerbahce. The club has already bolstered its squad this summer with the arrivals of striker Vedat Muriqi, who netted 23 goals for Real Mallorca in La Liga last season, alongside Mason Greenwood from Marseille and defender Nathan Ake from Manchester City.

Overcoming Injury Struggles

Lukaku's recent club career has been hampered by fitness issues. A left thigh injury sustained during pre-season last year severely limited his 2025-26 campaign, restricting him to just seven club appearances. However, he remained a pivotal figure for the Belgian national team, featuring in all six games during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals, where he scored three goals.

Despite the injuries, Lukaku's pedigree remains high. He previously enjoyed a prolific spell under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan, scoring 34 and 30 goals in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons respectively. He also reunited with Conte at Napoli, where he scored 14 league goals to help the club secure the Serie A title in 2024-25.