Romelu Lukaku has officially become a Chelsea player once again, nearly exactly 10 years after his first arrival at Stamford Bridge.The forward, who is 28 years old, has returned from Inter Milan to the Blues. He scored 64 goals in 95 games and won the 2020-21 Serie A title.According to reports, the transfer was worth 97.5 million. This is just short of the record for largest Premier League transfer -- Manchester City set it last week when Jack Grealish signed a 100m deal with Aston Villa.Lukaku was just 18 when he arrived from Anderlecht to join Chelsea. There was a lot of hype around Lukaku's arrival in August 2011. The teenage prodigy made just 10 league appearances for Chelsea over three seasons, with the other two being on loan to West Bromwich Albion (and Everton) respectively. In 2014, the young striker was transferred to Everton as a permanent player. This allowed Chelsea to recoup 31.8m in surplus players.As his career gained momentum, Lukaku quickly found his feet. There were many big moves that followed. Both Manchester United and Inter broke club transfer records to sign the Belgian player in 2017 and 2019.But, Lukaku's most recent mega-transfer to Chelsea has seen him surpass Neymar to become the most costly footballer, at least according to accumulated career-transfer fees.Lukaku, who was previously in third place on all-time lists, has now risen above Neymar as well as Cristiano Ronaldo to the top table. He has amassed a staggering 294.8 million cumulative fees.Transfermarkt has all historical transfer fees.1. Romelu Lukaku (Total career fee: 288.8m).Anderlecht to Chelsea: 13.5mChelsea to Everton: 31.82 + 3.15 Loan FeeEverton to Manchester United:76.23mManchester United to Inter Milan 66.6mInter Milan to Chelsea: 97.5mLukaku, who was split over five transfers among four clubs, has cost more than any other player. He's 28 years old, so he still has plenty of time to run. If his second stint at Chelsea is more productive than his previous one, that would be great.Romelu Lukaku was first signed to Chelsea in 2011. Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesSantos to Barcelona: 79.38mBarcelona to Paris Saint-Germain: 299,8mNeymar's enormous market value is evident in his ability to generate nearly 280m in career transfer fees, despite only moving twice. The first was a massive move to Barcelona, and the second was a world-record-obliterating switch between two of the biggest clubs in existence. It wouldn't surprise me if he regains the No. You wouldn't bet against him regaining the No. 1 position eventually.Neymar moved from Barcelona to PSG after the French club fulfilled the buyout clause in the Barcelona contract. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSONSporting Lisbon to Manchester United: 17.1mManchester United to Real Madrid 84.6mReal Madrid to Juventus: 105.3mRonaldo is one of three players who broke the 200m mark in career fees. He still provides excellent value for money, with a consistent stream of goals and trophies over his 19-year career. He might not be able to add to his collection at 36.Cristiano Ronaldo moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a record-breaking fee. Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty ImagesReal Madrid to Juventus: 18mReal Madrid to Juventus: 27mReal Madrid to Chelsea: 59.4mChelsea to Atletico Madrid: 31.5m plus 16.2m loan feesAtletico Madrid to Juventus: 18m Loan FeeMorata's high ranking is not surprising. However, the Spain international has risen in the rankings due to a large number of high-profile and high-value transfers made between elite clubs across Europe. It is still open to debate whether any of them has really received their money's value.Alvaro Morata is part of a group of misfiring, big-money strikers that Chelsea signed. GettyRosario to Benfica: 7.2mReal Madrid to Benfica: 29.7mReal Madrid to Manchester United 67.5mManchester United to Paris Saint-Germain 56.7mDi Maria was part of the revival of Galactico at Real, before moving to Manchester United in 2014. After scoring 4 goals in 32 games during the single season of faltering at Old Trafford, Di Maria fled to PSG.He was swiftly vindicated and added 17 trophies to his honours roll at club level since he moved to Paris.Angel Di Maria was a Man United player for one season before moving to PSG. Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesReal Sociedad Madrid to Atletico Madrid 48.6mAtletico Madrid to Barcelona: 110mAfter breaking through at Sociedad's first team, it was his five-year stint at Atletico where Griezmann truly became a star. The result was that Barcelona broke the bank for a stylish, industrious forward who has contributed 35 goals to their 99 games. He is now 30 years old and is available for transfer to Barca.Antoine Griezmann is not remembered for many memorable moments since his move to Barcelona. LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty ImagesStade Rennes to Borussia Borussia Dortmund: 31.5mBorussia Dortmund to Barcelona: 121.5mBarca paid a lot for Dembele, another emerging attacking star. It's fair to say that they haven't seen their best yet. This is mainly due to his seemingly inexorable series of injuries that has stymied his time at Camp Nou. Barca would sell another player if offered the right deal.Ousmane Dembole seems to have spent more time in pain than he did playing for Barca. Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMalmo to Ajax 7.02mAjax to Juventus: 14.4mInter Milan to Juventus: 22.32mInter Milan to Barcelona: 62.5mBarcelona to AC Milan: 21.6m plus 5.4m loan feesAC Milan to Paris Saint-Germain 18.9mIbrahimovic, a journeyman by any other name has spent his entire career changing and cutting between the largest clubs in Europe. He was able to command headline billing and a substantial fee for most occasions.You might be wondering why the former Swedish striker's later affairs with Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and (return) AC Milan are not listed. It's because they were all classified as free agent transfers.It is fair to say that Ibra would have been higher if he had started his career later when transfer fees really started to rise. 8.Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move to Barcelona was short-lived as he wasn't able to fit in Pep Guardiola’s system. Michael Regan/Getty ImagesVasco to Inter Milan 3.42mInter Milan to Liverpool: 11.7mLiverpool to Barcelona: 121.5mBarcelona to Bayern Munich: 7.65 Loan FeeCoutinho's staggering then-world-record transfer of Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 is a remarkable anomaly in his record. The Brazilian playmaker has struggled to live up the expectations ever since.This is the list that highlights Barcelona's terrible transfer record. Coutinho is the third Barca signing, but all three are still at Barca and Barca would gladly accept transfer offers at a cut-price for them all.Philippe Coutinho appeared to be surplus to Barcelona's needs within a matter weeks of signing. GettyRiver Plate to Real Madrid: 11.8mReal Madrid to Napoli 35.1mNapoli to Juventus: 81mJumia to AC Milan: 9.18m Loan FeeJuventus to Chelsea: 7.02m Loan FeeHiguain was the third-most expensive signing and the most costly domestic signing when, at 28 years old, Juventus activated his huge release clause at Napoli.After scoring two consecutive Serie A titles for Argentina, the striker made a sudden loan switch to AC Milan. This was in January. It was short-lived to make way for a similar six-month loan at Chelsea.Gonzalo Higuain made the biggest move from Napoli to Juventus. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty ImagesHiguain was back with the Bianconeri, winning a second Scudetto in 2019-20. However, his participation that season was significantly reduced. In September 2020, Higuain's contract was terminated to enable him to join Inter Miami CF, a new MLS franchise.
