Romelu Lukaku Signs For Everton In £28m Record Deal

Lukaku Completes Record £28m Move To Everton

Everton will smash their club transfer record with the £28 million signing of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a five-year contract following a fruitful season on loan at the club.

The Belgian scored 16 goals at Goodison Park as Everton finished fifth to qualify for the Europa League last season and the rapport he developed with coach Roberto Martínez has persuaded him to move to Merseyside.

Lukaku posted on Twitter "Time to write a new chapter," along with a picture of him aboard a private jet heading for Merseyside.

His arrival will trump the £15m Everton paid Standard Liege for Marouane Fellaini in 2008.

Lukaku's signing comes days after Bosnia and Herzegovina international Muhamed Bešić joined the Goodison Park club and although loanee Gerard Deulofeu has returned to Barcelona, the Toffees signed Gareth Barry earlier this month following a successful loan spell. The prodigious Ross Barkley also signed a new four-year contract on Tuesday.

Lukaku scored 16 goals on loan at Everton last season

Roberto Martínez admitted at Barkley's press conference he wanted three more attackers and Lukaku's arrival will give Everton a credible and permanent presence up front for the first time since Yakubu Aiyegbeni's 19 goals in the 2007-08 season.

Lukaku, 21, said earlier this year he needed to play Champions League football this coming season however, he has experienced a relative comedown at club and international level that has arguably prompted him to backtrack.

Ironically, Liverpool's new £10m striker Divock Origi has helped Everton sign Lukaku. Origi replaced his compatriot in the Belgium starting XI at the World Cup and that demotion, along with Lukaku's brief and indifferent spell of form in the Everton side, have administered a dose of reality.

The former Anderlecht striker joined Chelsea for £20m in 2011 when André Villas-Boas was manager yet he made just 15 appearances for the Blues.

Lukaku played once under Roberto di Matteo before he excelled on loan at West Brom in 2012-13, scoring 17 times.

Although José Mourinho played him in three Chelsea matches in August last year, Lukaku's desire for first-team football led to a transfer deadline day loan move to Everton.

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