In August 2011, Romelu Lukaku joined Chelsea for a fee reported to be around 12 million and signed a five year contract. He had scored 16 goals in 37 league goals during his final season at Anderlecht and was one of the most highly-rated young strikers in Europe. Despite wonderful spell at West Bromwich Albion on loan where the Belgian forward scored 17 Premier League goals (more than any of his Chelsea team mates) in 35 games, Chelsea did not play the forward upon his return and loaned him back out, this time to Everton. Once more, Lukaku performed exceptionally well and scored 15 goals in 31 league games at Goodison Park but Jose Mourinho was not interested in giving him a starting place and he signed for the Toffees permanently for £28 million prior to the start of the 2014-15 season. The treatment that Lukuku received at Stamford Bridge still looks dubious now and despite making a profit on the player they really should have developed him into their leading forward.
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
