Fenerbahce announced the signing of 33-year-old Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Serie A club Napoli on August 12, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 93 goals, agreed to a one-year deal with Fenerbahce that includes an option to extend for a further season [4].
Though the transfer fee was not officially revealed, Italian and Turkish media reported Fenerbahce will pay Napoli about €6 million plus bonuses linked to Lukaku’s performances [1, 3, 5, 4]. Lukaku joins the Turkish club after an injury-hit 2025-26 season at Napoli, where he made just seven appearances across all competitions [1, 2, 3]. Despite those challenges, he scored three goals for Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping his national team reach the quarterfinals [1, 2, 4].
Lukaku’s prolific club career includes stints at Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Napoli. He began at Anderlecht and has scored 316 goals in 681 senior club matches, including 18 in the Champions League [5, 4]. "It is an honour and a privilege to be joining your club, to join this club with a wonderful history," Lukaku said [1]. He added he is "fit, 100%, ready to go" and described the transfer as "an emotional moment after many years to be going back to Turkey where I lived as a young kid, where I discovered the professional world as a toddler with my dad" [2].
Lukaku’s father, Roger, played in Turkey in 1996-97 for Super Lig club Genclerbirligi, establishing the striker’s ties to the country [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish Super Lig last season and starts its new campaign against Genclerbirligi on August 13, 2026 [1, 3]. The club hopes Lukaku will boost its attack as it aims to reach the Champions League group stage, having advanced past Sturm Graz and preparing for a playoff against Lyon [5].
Lukaku’s plane arrived at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on the evening of August 12, 2026 [4]. Fenerbahce will field him in their opening league match against Genclerbirligi on August 13 [1, 3].
