Romelu Lukaku, striker for the Belgium national team, is leaving Napoli. The Italian club concluded negotiations to sell the player to Fenerbahçe, from Turkey, in a move that reorganizes the squad and the budget for the transfer market, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The Turks must pay an amount close to 5 million pounds, the equivalent of R$34.5 million at current prices, for the transaction. The athlete is scheduled to travel to Istanbul, where he will undergo medical examinations and sign a new contract in the coming days.
Lukaku arrived at Napoli in the 2024/2025 season and had a promising start, scoring 14 goals and contributing 11 assists in 38 games. However, in his last season, he was unable to maintain the same level of performance and faced a series of physical problems, participating in just seven matches.
Despite the good start, Lukaku’s high salary was a determining factor in Napoli’s decision to trade him. The Belgian striker received around 11 million euros (approximately R$64.8 million) annually, which represented a large burden on the salary bill and made the club’s financial planning in the market difficult.
Learn more: Napoli negotiates the signing of Gabriel Jesus; Arsenal ask for 20 million euros
Napoli’s financial relief could accelerate the signing of Gabriel Jesus
With the release of a significant part of the salary bill, Napoli will intensify its efforts to sign Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker is seen as the Italian team’s main target in this transfer window.
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Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus’ current club, reported that it will only start conversations with proposals of at least 20 million euros, which correspond to around R$117.92 million. So far, negotiations between the clubs have not yet progressed, but the interest of the Naples team is quite strong.
Transfer market sources in Italy indicate that Napoli intended to complete at least one sale before making a formal offer for Jesus. With Lukaku’s departure confirmed, the Italian club’s board must now focus on preparing a proposal.
Even with a strong link with Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus positively evaluates the possibility of moving to Napoli. In addition to the reputation of the Italian club, the Brazilian is looking for more time on the field, as last season he played 27 matches, with only nine of them as a starter.