Romelu Lukaku could be pushed into an exit from Napoli in 2026, as Rasmus Hojlund continues to impress under Antonio Conte and the Belgian has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia. Will Romelu Lukaku Leave Napoli? The Belgian’s future in Napoli has taken a sight twist in the 2025/26 season, as Antonio Conte has found a […]
Romelu Lukaku could be pushed into an exit from Napoli in 2026, as Rasmus Hojlund continues to impress under Antonio Conte and the Belgian has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.
Will Romelu Lukaku Leave Napoli?
The Belgian’s future in Napoli has taken a sight twist in the 2025/26 season, as Antonio Conte has found a new talisman in Rasmus Hojlund following Lukaku’s injury issues.
After leading the line in Napoli’s title winning campaign, Lukaku was expected to do so again this season but suffered an injury in a pre-season clash against Olympiacos.
The former Chelsea striker is not set to return until the end of 2025 and in his absence, Rasmus Hojlund has hit the ground running after signing from Manchester United on loan.
The Danish star has scored four goals in six appearances across all competitions and appears to have won the hearts of Napoli fans already after a run of strong performances.
If Napoli finish in the top four then Hojlund’s deal will be made permanent and his buy-option will cost Gli Azzurri €44 million – a fee that is looking rather tempting based off the Dane’s current form.
With Napoli’s place in the top four of Serie A looking all-but certain, Hojlund will be a Napoli player next season and Lukaku could take a back-seat under Antonio Conte.
The Belgian will be 33 in May 2026, meaning Lukaku is entering the latter stages of his career and will be competing with a player that is 10-years his younger in Hojlund.
Lukaku’s current injury means that Hojlund will have more chances to cement his place in the Napoli side and push Lukaku further back in Conte’s thoughts.
With a future exit becoming more likely, Lukaku may be looking for a new club in 2026 and the Belgian could head to the ever-evolving league in Saudi Arabia.
Could Romelu Lukaku Move To Saudi Arabia?
Lukaku is currently the second-highest paid player (not on loan) at Napoli and is reportedly earning €147,000 per week, which will run until June 2027.
Napoli have managed to find success in Lukaku’s absence and are looking to bolster their side in January, as the Serie A champions are reportedly interested in Kobbie Mainoo.
In order to fund a deal for the Manchester United midfielder, Napoli will need to offload some star names and Lukaku could be the first on the chopping board.
As the Belgian still has two-years remaining on his current deal, Napoli can set a fair asking price for the Belgian and clubs around Europe may be deterred by the striker’s age.
This means that Saudi Arabia could become a viable option, as teams across the nation have consistently paid huge fees for players and are offering very lucrative deals.
During the most recent summer transfer window, Mateo Retegui became the most expensive Italian player of all-time after signing for Al Qadsiah for around €60 million.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez have all committed to futures in Saudi Arabia and are all said to be earning €1 million or more per week.
Lukaku has previously revealed an interest in moving to Saudi Arabia and was close to signing for Al Ahli, meaning a deal could be agreed in 2026.
