Romelu Lukaku and a 22-year-old midfielder have both been confirmed to be leaving Chelsea.

Romelu Lukaku’s departure from Chelsea completes a double exit. Romelu Lukaku, a 22-year-old Chelsea midfielder, has joined Napoli after reuniting with Antonio Conte. Additionally, a Blues academy graduate has left the club permanently.

Chelsea’s management is working hard to clear out the dead wood in the squad before the transfer deadline on Friday. Many players have already moved on, including Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson, Malang Sarr, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, but there is still much work to be done.

Chelsea has been searching for a solution to their Lukaku problem all summer. They re-signed the striker for a club-record £97.5 million in August 2021, but he failed to meet expectations during his second spell in West London.

After spending the previous season on loan at Roma, Lukaku was heavily linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer.

Since Conte was named Napoli’s new manager, Lukaku has been expected to follow him there. That move is now complete.

The 31-year-old has signed a three-year contract, which will keep him in Naples until June 2027.

Chelsea took a significant financial hit when they sold Lukaku, but they still managed to get a decent price for him. Napoli has paid Enzo Maresca’s side an initial €30 million (£25.2 million), with the deal potentially rising to €45 million (£37.8 million) through add-ons.

Lukaku and Anjorin leave Chelsea. Lukaku now joins Napoli, his third Italian club after Roma and Inter Milan.

Napoli had a successful first transfer window under Conte, signing Alessandro Buongiorno, David Neres, Rafa Marin, and Leonardo Spinazzola before Lukaku arrived.

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is expected to follow Lukaku to Napoli, while Victor Osimhen’s next move has yet to be determined.

Chelsea is still interested in Osimhen, but Ivan Toney is also considered a viable option.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old attacking midfielder Tino Anjorin has followed Lukaku out of Stamford Bridge and into Italy.

Anjorin has joined Empoli, who are seventh in Serie A after two games, on a permanent basis for a reported €1 million (£840,000). Chelsea has included a 50% sell-on clause in the deal, which could pay off handsomely if Anjorin shines for his new club.

Anjorin has signed a three-year contract with Empoli and will now look to advance his career at the senior level. The former England youth international broke through as a promising youngster in the Chelsea academy, but he never made an impact for the club.

Anjorin made only five first-team appearances for Chelsea, while also on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow, Huddersfield Town, and Portsmouth.

In a statement announcing the playmaker’s departure, Chelsea said: ‘We would like to thank Tino for all his efforts while at the club and wish him well as he begins the next chapter in his career.’