Debut:
08/08/2017 v Real Madrid (N) 1-2 (Super Cup)
Farewell:
Transferred to Inter Milan, 08/08/2019, £74m
Passed Away:
Biography
Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli was born in Antwerp, Belgium, on 13 May 1993. A powerful, prolific and physically imposing centre-forward, he represented Manchester United between 2017 and 2019, scoring 42 goals in 96 competitive appearances.
Lukaku was born into a footballing family of Congolese heritage. His father, Roger Lukaku, played professionally in Belgium, while his younger brother Jordan also became a Belgian international footballer.
He began playing youth football with Rupel Boom before joining KFC Wintam and then Lierse. Lukaku scored at an extraordinary rate throughout his youth career, attracting the attention of Anderlecht, one of Belgium’s leading clubs.
Lukaku made his Anderlecht first-team debut shortly after his 16th birthday in May 2009. Despite his youth, his strength, pace and finishing ability allowed him to make an immediate impression in senior football.
During the 2009/10 campaign, Lukaku finished as the Belgian league’s leading scorer with 15 goals as Anderlecht won the championship. His performances in Belgium and the Europa League established him as one of Europe’s most highly regarded teenage forwards.
Chelsea signed Lukaku in August 2011. The move fulfilled a childhood ambition, but opportunities at Stamford Bridge were limited and he made only a small number of senior appearances during his first season.
A loan move to West Bromwich Albion in 2012 transformed his career. Lukaku scored 17 Premier League goals, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match as manager—a remarkable 5–5 draw at The Hawthorns.
He spent the following season on loan at Everton and scored 16 goals in all competitions. Everton subsequently signed him permanently in July 2014 for a club-record fee of approximately £28 million.
Lukaku developed into one of the Premier League’s most productive strikers at Goodison Park. He combined exceptional physical strength with explosive acceleration and became particularly dangerous when running into space.
During the 2016/17 season, he scored 25 Premier League goals and was selected in the PFA Team of the Year. By the time he left Everton, Lukaku had scored 87 goals in 166 appearances across all competitions.
Manchester United completed his signing on 10 July 2017. The initial transfer fee was approximately £75 million, with performance-related additions potentially increasing the final cost to £90 million.
Lukaku joined José Mourinho’s squad after United had qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. He inherited the number nine shirt from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and was expected to become the focal point of United’s attack.
His competitive debut came against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup on 8 August 2017. Lukaku scored during the second half, although United were defeated 2–1 by the reigning European champions.
Five days later, he enjoyed an outstanding Premier League debut, scoring twice as United defeated West Ham United 4–0 at Old Trafford. He became only the fourth player to score two goals on his Premier League debut for Manchester United.
Lukaku scored in nine of his opening ten competitive appearances, including Champions League goals against Basel and CSKA Moscow. His exceptional start helped United mount an early challenge at the top of the Premier League.
Although his scoring rate slowed during the winter, Lukaku continued to make an important contribution. He produced an excellent performance against Chelsea in February 2018, scoring United’s equaliser before creating Jesse Lingard’s winning goal.
He also scored in FA Cup victories over Derby County, Yeovil Town, Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion. Lukaku’s five goals helped United reach the 2018 final against Chelsea at Wembley.
An ankle injury restricted his involvement during the closing weeks of the campaign. He appeared as a substitute in the final, but Eden Hazard’s penalty gave Chelsea a 1–0 victory.
Lukaku completed his first Manchester United season with 27 goals from 51 appearances. It was the highest total achieved by a United player in his debut season since Zlatan Ibrahimovic had also scored 28 the previous year.
The 2018/19 campaign proved more difficult. Lukaku experienced periods of inconsistent form and fitness, while Mourinho’s departure in December led to a change in United’s attacking approach under Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
The Belgian nevertheless produced one of the most memorable performances of United’s season against Paris Saint-Germain. After losing the first leg of their Champions League tie 2–0 at Old Trafford, United travelled to Paris with numerous senior players unavailable.
Lukaku scored twice at the Parc des Princes as United recorded an extraordinary 3–1 victory and advanced on away goals. Marcus Rashford’s stoppage-time penalty completed one of the greatest European comebacks in the club’s history.
He also scored twice against Crystal Palace and Southampton during a run of six goals in three matches. Lukaku finished his second season with 15 goals from 45 appearances.
Following discussions about his position and role within Solskjær’s team, Lukaku expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford. Inter Milan signed him on 8 August 2019 for a fee reported at approximately £74 million.
In total, Lukaku made 96 competitive appearances and scored 42 goals for Manchester United. His record comprised 28 Premier League goals, seven in the Champions League, six in the FA Cup and one in the UEFA Super Cup.
Lukaku revitalised his career under Antonio Conte at Inter. He scored 34 goals during his first season and helped the Italian club reach the 2020 Europa League final, where they were defeated 3–2 by Sevilla.
He was even more influential during the following campaign, scoring 24 league goals as Inter won the 2020/21 Serie A championship. It was the club’s first Italian league title in 11 years, and Lukaku was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player.
Chelsea brought him back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021 for a club-record fee of approximately £97.5 million. Lukaku scored on his second debut against Arsenal and helped Chelsea win the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in both the semi-final and final.
However, injuries, tactical difficulties and a controversial interview damaged his relationship with the club. He completed the campaign with 15 goals before returning to Inter on loan for the 2022/23 season.
Lukaku helped Inter reach the 2023 Champions League final, appearing as a substitute during the 1–0 defeat by Manchester City. Another loan followed with Roma, where he scored 21 goals in all competitions during 2023/24.
In August 2024, Lukaku joined Napoli and was reunited with Conte. He played an important role as the club won the 2024/25 Serie A championship, scoring the decisive second goal against Cagliari on the final evening of the season. Napoli’s title victory
After an injury-affected second season in Naples, Lukaku moved to Fenerbahçe in August 2026, joining fellow former United midfielder Fred in Turkey.
Lukaku made his senior Belgium debut against Croatia in March 2010, aged only 16. His first international goals came later that year when he scored twice in a victory over Russia.
He represented Belgium at the 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups, as well as the European Championships of 2016, 2020 and 2024. He scored four goals at the 2018 tournament as Belgium defeated England in the third-place play-off to secure the country’s best World Cup finish.
Lukaku became Belgium’s record goalscorer in 2017 and subsequently extended that record far beyond the totals of his predecessors. By July 2026, he had scored 93 goals in 132 senior international appearances, placing him among the most prolific international footballers in history.
Romelu Lukaku’s Manchester United career contained periods of prolific scoring as well as considerable scrutiny. His record of 42 goals from 96 appearances was respectable, but tactical changes and questions about his suitability for Solskjær’s preferred system brought his Old Trafford career to an early conclusion.
His subsequent success in Italy demonstrated his quality when used within a system suited to his strengths. A league champion in Belgium and Italy, Belgium’s record goalscorer and one of the leading scorers of his generation, Lukaku has enjoyed a distinguished career at some of Europe’s most prominent clubs.
