Romelu Lukaku (Part 2)

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31 Mar 2024

Romelu Lukaku (Part 2)

On the final day of the summer 2013 transfer window, Romelu Lukaku joined Everton on a season-long loan. He made his debut for the Toffees away to West Ham United on September 21, 2013, and scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory for Everton. During the header that led to the goal, he collided with a West Ham defender and had to be taken off the pitch for treatment. It was only after the physio informed him that he had scored the winner that he realized it.

Nine days later, Lukaku scored twice on his home debut in a 3–2 win against Newcastle United, also providing an assist for Ross Barkley's goal. He then opened the scoring in a 3–1 defeat to Manchester City in the following match. Lukaku continued his impressive start at Everton by scoring the opening goal in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa. He further showcased his talent by scoring twice in the first Merseyside derby of the season, as Everton drew 3–3 against Liverpool. Lukaku described it as the best experience he had had in his short career.
In January 2014, Lukaku was recognized by The Guardian as one of the ten most promising young players in Europe. However, later that month, he suffered an ankle ligament injury during the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, when Gareth Barry inadvertently collided with him while attempting to block Steven Gerrard's opening goal. Lukaku was taken off on a stretcher as a result.

Lukaku made his return from injury against West Ham in March 2014, scoring the only goal of the match in the 81st minute after coming on as a second-half substitute. On April 6, he scored a goal and provided an assist as Everton defeated Arsenal 3–0 at Goodison Park, securing their sixth consecutive Premier League win. Lukaku's final goal of the loan period came on the last day of the season as he scored the second goal in a 2–0 win over Hull City. Overall, Lukaku found the net 15 times in 31 league matches, helping Everton to fifth place with a club-record 72 Premier League points.

Romelu Lukaku signed a five-year contract with Everton for a then-club record fee of £28 million. He scored his first goal as a permanent player on September 13, 2014, against his former club West Brom. Lukaku refrained from celebrating the goal out of respect and was applauded by the West Brom fans for his gesture.
On February 19, 2015, Lukaku scored his first hat-trick in a 4–1 win for Everton against Young Boys in the UEFA Europa League last 32, showcasing his versatility by scoring with a header, a right-foot shot, and a left-foot shot. He added another two goals in the second leg a week later, finishing as the joint-highest scorer of the tournament that season with eight goals, alongside Alan of Red Bull Salzburg.

In the second game of the 2015–16 Premier League season, Lukaku scored a first-half double in Everton's 3–0 win at Southampton on August 15, 2015, with his first two shots on target. He displayed sportsmanship before the match by presenting a t-shirt to a home fan he had accidentally struck with the ball during shooting practice.
Throughout the season, Lukaku continued to showcase his scoring prowess, scoring braces against opponents like West Brom, and Aston Villa. On December 12, 2015, he became the first Everton player to score in six consecutive Premier League matches and the first to score in seven consecutive matches in all competitions since Bob Latchford forty years previously.

Lukaku continued his goal-scoring streak, becoming the first Everton player since Dave Hickson in 1954 to score in eight consecutive matches in a 3–2 defeat to Leicester City. On February 6, 2016, he scored his 20th goal of the season in a 3–0 victory at Stoke City, making him the first Everton player since Graeme Sharp to score at least twenty goals in all competitions in consecutive seasons for the club.
Throughout the season, Lukaku continued to break records, equalling Premier League goal-scoring records for Everton set by Tony Cottee and Andrei Kanchelskis in the mid-1990s, and setting new milestones for himself in terms of goal returns in a league season.

On September 12, 2016, Romelu Lukaku marked his first goals of the 2016–17 season by netting all three goals in Everton's 3–0 victory against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. His hat-trick came in just 11 minutes and 37 seconds, making it the 12th-fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.
On February 4, 2017, Lukaku achieved a remarkable feat by scoring four goals, including Everton's fastest ever Premier League goal, in a thrilling 6–3 victory against Bournemouth at Goodison Park. This match also marked the 300th hat-trick scored in the Premier League.
Lukaku continued his goal-scoring exploits by equaling Duncan Ferguson's club record for Premier League goals on February 25, 2017, netting his 60th EPL goal for Everton in a 2–0 victory over Sunderland at Goodison Park. He then surpassed Ferguson to become the outright record holder on March 5, 2017, scoring in a 3–2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

In subsequent matches, Lukaku continued to etch his name into Everton's history books. He became the first Everton player since Bob Latchford to score 20 or more goals in all competitions for three consecutive seasons during a 3–0 home win against West Brom. Additionally, Lukaku's brace in a 4–0 victory over Hull City took his league goals tally to 21 for the season, making him the first Everton player since Gary Lineker 31 years earlier to surpass 20 league goals in a season. Moreover, he became the fourth player and first foreign player to score 80 Premier League goals before the age of 24.

Lukaku declined a new five-year contract with Everton, amidst speculation of a potential return to Chelsea. His comments questioning the club's ambition to make significant transfers and pursue Champions League qualification caused controversy and led to friction with his manager Ronald Koeman.
Despite the contract dispute, Lukaku's goal-scoring form remained formidable. A goal in a 3–1 win against Burnley on April 15, 2017, meant he became the first Everton player since Bob Latchford to score 25 goals in two consecutive seasons in all competitions. Additionally, he became the first player since Dixie Dean to score in nine consecutive matches at Goodison Park. Lukaku's outstanding performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the first time, and he was shortlisted for the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards.