Fenerbahce have completed the permanent signing of Romelu Lukaku from Napoli, ending the Belgium international’s two-year spell in Serie A and taking him back to Turkish football’s top tier.

The Istanbul-based club confirmed the move on Wednesday, announcing that the striker has signed a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months. Lukaku will link up with a Fenerbahce side that has been heavily active in this summer’s transfer window.

A summer of change in Naples

Lukaku’s departure was set in motion earlier in the window when Napoli completed the permanent signing of Rasmus Hojlund in a €44million (£38m; $51.4m) transfer from Manchester United, following a season-long loan. That deal opened the door for the Italian champions to allow Lukaku to move on permanently.

“Fenerbahçemizde! #BigRom”

— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce)

Fenerbahce have already been among Europe’s busiest clubs this summer, signing striker Vedat Muriqi — who scored 23 goals in La Liga for Real Mallorca last season — alongside Mason Greenwood from Marseille and defender Nathan Ake from Manchester City.

An injury-plagued season behind him

The 2025-26 campaign proved difficult for Lukaku at club level. A left thigh injury sustained in pre-season sidelined him for much of the year, limiting him to just seven club appearances. He did, however, feature in all six matches as Belgium reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament.

A reunion with Conte and a storied career

Lukaku was reunited with his former Chelsea and Inter head coach Antonio Conte at Napoli, scoring 14 league goals as the club won Serie A in 2024-25.

It was under Conte at Inter that Lukaku enjoyed the most productive spell of his career, netting 34 and 30 goals in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively. He helped the Nerazzurri reach the Europa League final before winning the Italian title, then moved to Chelsea for £97.5million in 2021.

That second spell at Stamford Bridge lasted just one season before a series of loan moves — back to Inter, where he reached the 2022-23 Champions League final, and then Roma — prior to joining Napoli permanently in 2024.

Now 33, Lukaku begins a new chapter in Istanbul as Fenerbahce aim to challenge for the Turkish Super Lig title with a considerably strengthened attacking unit.