Manchester United complete £75m hijack of Chelsea-bound Lukaku from Everton

Manchester United have completed the signing of striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton for a reported initial fee of £75million.

The 24-year-old passed a medical in Los Angeles at the weekend shortly after United announced that they had reached an agreement with Everton over the transfer.

The Belgium international has signed a five-year deal, with the option of an additional year, to become Jose Mourinho’s second signing of the transfer window, following the arrival of defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica.

“I would like to start by thanking Everton and the fans for the last four wonderful seasons, I have made some special friends and we have shared some amazing moments,” Lukaku said after his move was finalised on Monday.

“However, when Manchester United and Jose Mourinho come knocking at the door it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down.

First of all i want to thank God for this opportunity. Delighted and blessed to be part of the greatest club in the world @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/dWrQjHkH5a

— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) July 10, 2017

“You could see the fight, determination and the spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I want to become a part of that.

“I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans but before that pre-season is where the hard work starts and I am looking forward to that first training session.”

Lukaku’s switch comes after Wayne Rooney moved in the opposite direction, completing a move back to his boyhood club Everton on Sunday.