Tuesday 11 July 2017

United complete £75 million Romelu Lukaku signing

United have completed the signing of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for an initial £75m fee on a five year contract.

The deal, believed to include £15m for add ons, could eventually rise as high as £90m and eclipse the world record fee we paid for Paul Pogba last summer. 

The transfer comes the day after former United captain Wayne Rooney went the other way to return to his boyhood club on a free. 

Lukaku was the second highest scorer in the league last term with 25 for Everton, and boasts an impressive ratio of 71 goals in 110 games over four seasons at Goodison Park.

Champions Chelsea matched United's bid for the striker but missed out on re-signing their former player.

Despite their last-ditch attempt to prise Lukaku from United's grasp, Chelsea weren't willing to match the fee agent Mino Raiola will earn from his player's move to Old Trafford. 

The striker, a long term target for the Reds, was on the list of forward options that Jose Mourinho gave to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the season.

With United looking to first Antoine Griezmann and then Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, Lukaku had been expected to return to Chelsea and news of United's bid for him came as a surprise to many. 

The striker was sold to Everton for a then club-record £28m by Mourinho during the boss's second spell at Chelsea in July 2014.

Lukaku, who scored for Belgium in both the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, has linked up with United ahead of the pre-season tour to the US and trained with the team on Monday. 

The 24-year-old spoke of his delight at signing for United, and said:

"When Manchester United and Jose Mourinho come knocking at the door, it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that you cannot turn down. I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford for one of the biggest clubs in the world in front of 75,000 fans. You could see the fight, determination and spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I'm delighted to be able to become a part of that. He (Mourinho) is a manager that always helps to win trophies, I have a good relationship with him and can't wait to get started." 

Lukaku is yet to be allocated a squad number but looks set to pick up either Wazza's old number 10 shirt or inherit the number 9 from Zlatan. 



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