Romelu Lukaku joins AS Roma on loan from Chelsea - option to buy clause included?

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Romelu Lukaku has made a move to Roma from Chelsea on a loan deal for the entire season, thus resolving the long-standing impasse between him and his club.

It's understood by PA news agency that Serie A will incur an £8million fee with no commitment to purchase, while also assuming responsibility for the Belgian striker's salary which will be less than the weekly £325,000 he was earning at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Blues, had previously suggested that Lukaku might still fit into his strategy if an agreement wasn't reached before Friday's transfer deadline.

But the Belgian has now switched London for Rome and will spend the season under the tutelage of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

Lukaku hasn't featured for Chelsea after signing on from Inter Milan two years back for £97.5m as his last game was in May 2022. He spent the previous season at Inter on loan where he played a crucial role in propelling them to the Champions League finals.

Although there were attempts by Inter to get him back this summer, reports suggest he was dissatisfied following exclusion from Simone Inzaghi's starting line-up during Istanbul's final against Manchester City - a match they lost 1-0 despite Lukaku's late entry.

Juventus had shown interest in obtaining him on loan earlier this summer but sources confirm Chelsea was holding out for outright sale hoping to recover most of their initial investment made in 2021.

Lukaku who had an initial stint with Chelsea between 2011 and 2014 featuring only sporadically amidst loan spells at West Brom and Everton before moving permanently to Goodison Park outfit will now collaborate with Jose Mourinho - someone he worked under during his Manchester United days.

No option to buy for AS Roma

Reports suggest that Lukaku's loan move to AS Roma is solely a move for twelve months, as there is no option to buy clause included in the deal. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed on Thursday (August 31) about the news and it looks like Lukaku will have to come back to London again next summer.

The former Inter striker is expected to play in Roma's next Serie A game at the weekend.