Romelu Lukaku completes loan move back to Inter Milan from Chelsea

Romelu Lukaku has rejoined Inter Milan, less than a year after signing for Chelsea for £97.5m.

Inter have paid a loan fee of €8m plus add-ons to take the Belgium international back to San Siro after a frustrating spell at Chelsea.

Inter announced the deal with a video of club president Steven Zhang alongside Lukaku, who said he was “very happy” to be back.

The 29-year-old scored just eight Premier League goals and registered only one assist in 26 outings and caused controversy last December when he went on record about his desire to return to Inter.

He has now got his wish, reportedly accepting a significant pay cut on his £325,000-per-week salary in order to return to the Italian giants.

“It’s like coming back home,” said Lukaku.

“I think that my family and I were really happy in Milano thanks to the fans and my team-mates. From the first day I arrived, everyone helped me so much.

“I kept hold of my home when I went to England, just to show how happy I am to be back here. Now I just want to get back on the field with the lads.”

Lukaku scored 64 goals in 95 games for Inter, helping them to their first Serie A title in 11 years in the 2020-21 season.

He could play in Inter’s first game of the 2022/23 Serie A season at Leece on August 14.

He returned to Chelsea having re-established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the world, but his time in London began to unravel after falling out of favour with manager Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues have been linked with a move for Everton’s Richarlison, Leeds’ Raphinha and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling as they seek to find a replacement.