Revealed: Staggering drop in 29-year-old’s transfer value after failed Chelsea move

The decrease of Romelu Lukaku’s transfer value since his transfer to Chelsea back in 2021 has been laid bare and it doesn’t make for good viewing.

Lukaku‘s career has been a whirlwind since the summer of 2021 when he returned to Chelsea for a club-record £97.5 million from Inter Milan.

Chelsea wanted to reunite with the Belgium international, who delivered a 2020/21 campaign of 30 goals and 10 assists in 44 matches in all competitions, having won the Champions League for the second time – beating Manchester City 1-0 in Portugal.

He scored 15 goals in his first season back at Stamford Bridge, however it was far from smooth. In an explosive and unauthorised interview with Sky Italia back in December 2021, Lukaku expressed his unhappiness at the club and former boss Thomas Tuchel’s formation.

Lukaku said: “Physically I’m doing great. I’m just not very happy with the situation, but that’s normal.

“I think the boss has decided to play a different formation but I have to stick at it and get on with it professionally.

“I’m not happy with the situation but it’s my job and I mustn’t give up.”

Come the end of the season, Chelsea gave Lukaku the green light to leave the club and the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership agreed a deal with Inter Milan for the forward to return on loan for the 2022/23 campaign.

It hasn’t been an ideal return for Lukaku to the San Siro. He has been impacted by injuries, not looking his former self, returning just five goals in 19 appearances this term.

“The loan was for one season so on June 30 regardless of how well he plays, he’ll go back to Chelsea,” Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta told Sky Italia. 

‘This has been an unprecedented season. I’m referring, of course, to the World Cup. The problems we’ve experienced have been experienced by other clubs too and the players who played at the World Cup.”

Whether or not Lukaku stays or goes this summer, Chelsea will lose a considerable amount of money on their former club-record signing.

As showcased by Transfermarkt, Lukaku has lost 60 percent of his value since his move to Stamford Bridge almost two years ago.

Romelu Lukaku’s decline in value in full

• August 2020: €85 million
• December 2020: €90 million
• May 2021: €100 million
• December 2021: €100 million
• March 2022: €85 million
• June 2022: €70 million
• November 2022: €55 million
• March 2023: €40 million