Romelu Lukaku took part in his first training session with Fenerbahçe on Thursday as the Belgian striker began settling into his new team ahead of Saturday’s Süper Lig opener against Gençlerbirliği.
Lukaku joined his new teammates at Fenerbahçe’s Can Bartu Facilities as the Yellow-Navy Blues continued preparations for their opening league match in Ankara.
The 33-year-old completed his permanent move to Fenerbahçe from Napoli earlier this week, adding a high-profile attacking option to a squad seeking to challenge for the Turkish title.
Under coach İsmail Kartal, the session began indoors with strength and endurance exercises before the players moved onto the field for warmups, agility and coordination drills.
The squad then split into two groups for 5-on-2 possession and passing exercises before finishing the workout with small-sided scrimmages.
Lukaku’s arrival has generated considerable attention in Türkiye, not only because of his pedigree but also because of his personal connection to the country. He spent part of his childhood in Türkiye while his father, Roger Lukaku, played for Gençlerbirliği in the 1990s.
The striker arrives with an extensive resume that includes spells at Anderlecht, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma and Napoli. He is also Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, with 93 international goals.
Lukaku endured an injury-hit final season at Napoli, making only seven club appearances, but he played in all six of Belgium’s matches at the 2026 World Cup and scored three goals as Belgium reached the quarterfinals.
He has said he feels fully fit and ready to contribute at Fenerbahçe, describing the transfer as both an honor and an emotional return to a country that formed part of his early life.
Fenerbahçe completed the transfer for a reported fee of about 6 million euros plus performance-related bonuses, with his contract running through June 2028, according to Italian reports and Transfermarkt.
The club has made significant additions to its attack this summer, with Mason Greenwood and Vedat Muriqi among the other arrivals as Fenerbahçe look to mount a serious title challenge.
Fenerbahçe finished second behind Galatasaray in recent seasons and are aiming to end their long wait for the Süper Lig championship.
The club have also made progress in Champions League qualifying, adding another layer to an increasingly demanding start to the season.
Fenerbahçe will hold their final training session Friday before traveling to Ankara for Saturday’s match at Eryaman Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. local time.
