Romelu Lukaku has joined Fenerbahçe from Napoli, promising fans more than just goals. The striker, who is fluent in seven languages, expressed his desire to learn Turkish to connect with teammates, staff, and the fanbase in Istanbul. He plans to start Turkish lessons soon, aiming for proficiency within three to four months.
Lukaku’s connection to Türkiye is personal, as his late father played in the country in 1996. He described Türkiye as a “second home” and recalled memories of his father’s time there, which inspired his own football aspirations. His brother, Jordan Lukaku, also played in Türkiye, and his father’s final goal in the country was against Fenerbahçe. Lukaku also noted that the only previous match he played in Türkiye was at Fenerbahçe’s stadium, making his move to the club a significant moment for him.
Lukaku’s Arrival and Fitness
The Belgium international, who is 33 years old, participated in his first training session with Fenerbahçe on Thursday at the Can Bartu Facilities. This marked his initial integration with the Yellow-Navy Blues as they prepare for their opening Süper Lig match against Gençlerbirliği in Ankara.
Lukaku completed his permanent transfer from Napoli earlier in the week. Despite an injury-affected season with Napoli, where he made seven appearances, he played in all six of Belgium’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, scoring three goals as Belgium reached the quarterfinals. He has stated that he feels “100% fit” and ready to contribute to Fenerbahçe’s campaign.
The club has been active in strengthening its attack this summer, with Mason Greenwood and Vedat Muriqi also joining. Fenerbahçe aims to challenge for the Turkish title, having finished as runners-up to Galatasaray for the past four seasons and without a Turkish league title since 2014.
Upcoming Fixtures and Challenges
Lukaku’s readiness for the upcoming matches is a point of focus. He is considered doubtful for Saturday evening’s Süper Lig opener away at Gençlerbirliği. Following this, Fenerbahçe will face a challenging Champions League play-off first leg against French club Olympique Lyon.
The team’s training session under coach İsmail Kartal included indoor strength and endurance exercises, followed by on-field warm-ups, agility, and coordination drills. The squad then engaged in 5-on-2 possession and passing exercises before concluding with small-sided scrimmages. Fenerbahçe will hold their final training session on Friday before traveling to Ankara for Saturday’s match at Eryaman Stadium, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. local time.
Lukaku’s career includes spells at Anderlecht, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma, and Napoli. He has won the Belgian championship with Anderlecht, a Fifa Club World Cup with Chelsea, and a Scudetto with both Inter Milan and Napoli.
The fee and length of contract for Lukaku were not disclosed by the club, though Italian reports and Transfermarkt indicate a reported fee of about 6 million euros plus performance-related bonuses, with his contract running through June 2028.
His arrival has generated significant attention in Türkiye due to his football pedigree and his personal history with the country. Fenerbahçe’s pursuit of a Süper Lig championship continues with these new additions.
Fenerbahçe has also advanced in Champions League qualifying, adding another layer to their demanding start to the season.
Source: goal.com
