Lukaku Set to Smash Transfer Record as Second-Highest Earner of All Time
[Image: €127m more than Cristiano Ronaldo – Romelu Lukaku’s career transfer fees set to hit €374m]
Romelu Lukaku is on the brink of completing a permanent move to Napoli, bringing an end to his disastrous second spell at Chelsea. The Belgium international is set to join the Serie A giants for an initial €35 million, plus additional add-on clauses. And when the deal is finalized, Lukaku will become the second-highest earning player in football history, with a whopping €374 million in transfer fees earned throughout his career.
[Image: Lukaku accumulative transfer fees]
Lukaku’s transfer story is a remarkable one. He first came through at Belgian club Anderlecht before making a move to Chelsea in 2011 for €15m. He spent time on loan at West Brom and Everton, where he thrived, earning a permanent deal with the Toffees for €35.4m. Manchester United then signed him for €84.7m, making him their second-highest earner at the time. Although his time at Old Trafford was cut short, Chelsea re-signed him for a record-breaking €113m.
This adds up to a staggering €374 million in transfer fees paid for Lukaku’s signature throughout his career. Only Neymar’s massive move to Saudi Arabia has earned him more, with a career cumulative transfer fee of €400 million. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, is third on the list with €247 million.
What’s remarkable is the drop-off after Lukaku. Alvaro Morata’s career transfer fees stand at €202 million, while Ousmane Dembélé’s total stands at €220 million. It’s also worth noting that three of the top 10 most expensive players have played for Chelsea, while six have played in the Premier League.
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