Chelsea sell Lukaku to Napoli for €30m after Arrizabalaga’s Bournemouth loan
NAPOLI BOUND: Chelsea have offloaded two of the players they want out of the club, with Romelu Lukaku joining Napoli in an initial €30m (£25.2m) deal and Kepa Arrizabalaga moving to Bournemouth on a season’s loan.
Chelsea have offloaded two of the players they want out of the club, with Romelu Lukaku joining Napoli in an initial €30m (£25.2m) deal and Kepa Arrizabalaga moving to Bournemouth on a season’s loan.
Lukaku rejoined Chelsea three years ago for a club record €115.9m (£97.5m) but has spent the past two seasons on loan in Italy and has been reunited at Napoli with Antonio Conte, under whom he thrived at Internazionale from 2019 to 2021.
The striker has not played since May 2022 for Chelsea, who are cautiously optimistic of convincing Victor Osimhen to join them from Napoli on a salary that fits their wage structure. Osimhen has been given a huge offer from Al-Ahli and there could be a late move for the Nigeria international from Paris Saint-Germain.
A new striker remains a priority for Enzo Maresca, who is wary of pressing ahead with Nicolas Jackson as his only senior No 9 in his squad, but Chelsea are not sure about a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
They are continuing to work on a deal to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, although the winger also has the option of a loan to Juventus.
Liverpool have completed the signing of Italy forward Federico Chiesa from Juventus on a "long-term" contract. Chiesa, who has won 51 caps for his country, made 131 appearances in total for Juve after joining them, initially on loan, from Fiorentina in 2020 with the move made permanent in 2022.
Chiesa said: "I'm so happy to be a Liverpool player. When (Liverpool sporting director) Richard Hughes called me and said: 'Do you want to join Liverpool?' - and the coach called me - I said yes immediately.
"I know the history of this club, I know what it represents to the fans. So, I'm so happy and I can't wait to get started."
The 26-year-old made his senior debut for Italy in 2018, played in all seven matches as they won Euro 2020 and made four appearances at Euro 2024. Chiesa becomes Liverpool's second summer recruit under new manager Arne Slot after the signing of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will remain in Spain until the 2025-26 season.
The 26-year-old arrived on Merseyside for a medical on Wednesday to complete a reported move from Juventus for €11.8m(£10m) plus €2.9m (£2.5m) in add-ons.
In other transfer news, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has joined Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season. Kepa spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and became available for a move away Stamford Bridge after being told he was not in new manager Enzo Maresca's first-team plans for the current campaign.
The Spainish international, who is the world's most expensive keeper following his €84.4m (£71m) move to Stamford Bridge from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues.
"We are delighted to bring a player of Kepa's calibre to Bournemouth," chief executive Neill Blake said "We were aware of his availability and were keen to take the opportunity to bring him to the club on loan. "We believe he will be an exciting addition to our talented goalkeeping department."
Manchester United are expected to be in the thick of the action before the transfer window closes on Friday night. United are poised to complete the signing of Paris St Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte for €50m (£42.2m) before the 11pm deadline, with up to €10m (£8.4m) in add-ons.
The Red Devils are confident Ugarte will be registered by midday on Friday to be available for Sunday's Premier League home game against Liverpool. The 23-year-old Uruguay international's move will signal the end of Scott McTominay's time at Old Trafford. Scotland international McTominay, 27, is heading to Italy to join Serie A side Napoli in a deal worth €30m (£25.4m) deal having made 253 appearances for his boyhood club.
United are also reportedly in talks with Chelsea over two separate deals for wingers Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling. Sancho's fall-out with manager Erik ten Hag last year saw him join Borussia Dortmund on loan in the second half of last season, while fellow England international Sterling has been told he is not in the plans of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Ivan Toney - who has not featured in a Brentford matchday squad this season - but the Saudi Pro League still seems a potential destination for the England striker. Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also reportedly on the Blues' radar to strengthen their attacking options. Romelu Lukaku seems set to finally leave Chelsea once and for all for Napoli having spent the last two seasons in Italy on loan at Inter Milan and Roma, while defender Trevoh Chalobah could also head out of Stamford Bridge.
Brentford appear determined to keep Yoane Wissa with the Bees having reportedly turned down a €17.8m (£15m) offer from Nottingham Forest for the DR Congo forward.
Two departures seem likely at Arsenal with Aaron Ramsdale moving to Southampton and Eddie Nketiah making the switch across London to Crystal Palace. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia could replace Ramsdale and provide cover for David Raya at the Emirates Stadium.
Palace are also expected to boost their squad with the arrival of Wolfsburg centre-back Maxence Lacroix. The 24-year-old Frenchman - who would reportedly cost Palace an initial €21.4m (£18m) plus €3.5m (£3m) in add-ons - would replace Joachim Andersen, who joined Fulham last week.
Newcastle still hope a deal for Marc Guehi can be done in the final hours of the window despite having multiple offers for the England defender turned down this summer. Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier have been among those to be linked with leaving Newcastle before the deadline.
Wolves are closing in on a double swoop for Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Brazilian midfielder Andre from Fluminense, while Everton could complete the signing of Belgium midfielder Orel Mangala on a season-long loan from Lyon.
Ajax have announced the signing of Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst from Championship club Burnley.
Weghorst, 32, has agreed a deal with Ajax until June 2026 for an undisclosed fee. He joined Burnley from Wolfsburg in 2022 and had loan spells with Manchester United, Besiktas and TSG Hoffenheim while at Turf Moor.
Weghorst has made 39 appearances for the Dutch national team – having made his debut against England in 2018 – and scored 12 goals.
“Wout stands for an absolute top sports experience, and we find that extremely important at Ajax,” Ajax technical director Alex Kroes told the club’s website.
“He is a prolific striker who constantly makes things difficult for every opponent.
“There are many matches coming up in the next few months, so we are happy that Wout is joining us.”
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