Use your head and sign up now for the Everton FC newsletter Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Blues icon Kevin Campbell is delighted that his former club have finally managed to tie the knot with Romelu Lukaku and land the Belgian striker in a permanent deal.

Evertonians have been smitten with Lukaku ever since he arrived at Goodison on transfer deadline day last year but up to now have been reluctant to get too emotionally attached for the fear of getting their hearts broken.

The former Anderlecht man was originally only at the club on loan and it was felt the better he did in Everton shirt, the more likely it would be that he’d be swapping their royal blue jersey for Chelsea’s again in the coming campaign. But it seems that such affections were mutual and the 21-year-old is now back with Everton - only this time for keeps.

Ultimately it appears that Lukaku and Jose Mourinho had irreconcilable differences.

It could have been a messy divorce but fortunately for Roberto Martinez, the long courtship has paid off and Lukaku this week joined the Blues for a club record £28million fee.

Campbell, 44, said: “Rom wants to make a name for himself but he was not getting opportunities at Chelsea.

“After doing it for West Brom he came here with a lot more pressure but it’s been a marriage made in heaven.

“He’s obviously cost big money but that’s what you have to pay for these premium guys who can put the ball in the back of the net.”

Like Lukaku, Campbell first arrived at Goodison on loan, joining from Turkish club Trabzonspor in March 1999 and he also finished top scorer in his first season at the club - netting nine times in just eight games to almost single-handedly save Walter Smith’s side from relegation.

The Londoner appreciates the instant impact that Lukaku also had for the Blues.

Campbell said: “Rom’s a proven player for Everton. He came on loan at just gelled.

“He got on with the manager and fitted into the system, there is a real togetherness.

“When he got injured after the derby, the cutting edge that he brings to the table was lacking.

“It’s a great piece of business by Roberto Martinez and Bill Kenwright. They can have great pride in landing their number one target.

“Rom’s certainly a marquee signing. He’s young but proven. Only two players have scored more goals in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons.”

Lambeth-born Campbell knows what it’s like trying to establish yourself as a striker at a big club having come through the youth ranks at Arsenal.

A winner of a European trophy with the Gunners plus all three domestic honours including the 1991 League Championship, he reckons Lukaku’s goals could have handed this year’s title to capital rivals Chelsea ahead of Manchester City had the Belgian remained at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “You just need to be given a chance. If he’d have played for Chelsea last season then they would probably have been champions.

“Obviously there were issues with the hierarchy there and they have more experienced options. He was a little bit raw coming to the Premier League from Anderlecht and you need to adjust and step up.”

Done with playing second fiddle to Ian Wright, Alan Smith and new boy John Hartson, Campbell eventually quit first club Arsenal in 1995 shortly after George Graham’s departure from Highbury and he recognises the importance to Lukaku of being the main man.

He said: “I think this coming season will be the most important for him. Hopefully he can get another run of games.

“He’s got good people around him now. I don’t blame him for wanting to play games, that’s what everyone wants.

“Rom is trusted by Everton and is with a manager he knows. If he hadn’t enjoyed himself at Everton he’d have had his chance to make his excuses and go somewhere else because he was very much sought after.

“You can tell by his body language though that he’s genuinely excited. It’s nice to know you’re going to be playing.”

While Campbell is delighted to see the Blues land their number one target of the summer, he still feels there is room for more big names to arrive.

He said: “To acquire permanently Rom is massive for Everton. It’s a statement but I wouldn’t necessarily go as far as saying it’s a statement of intent.

“A statement of intent would be if they bolstered the squad with three or four more quality signings. If I saw that then I think people would really take notice.

“I like Rom because he leads the line very well and can also cut inside from the wings but most importantly he knows where the goal is.

“He seems a very level-headed boy and is well-liked by his team-mates because he puts a shift in.

“You’ve got to remember that in football terms he’s still only a baby but under the tutelage of Martinez and his staff he can become a big threat in the coming years, especially with the likes of Ross Barkley providing service for him.”

Campbell has been impressed with how the team have developed so far under Martinez and expects to see them improve further this term.

He said: “You can never rest on your laurels in football but Rom and Everton are learning together. Last season was their first under Martinez and he’ll be looking to get a lot more out of the players this season.

“It’s good that they’re in Europe because that’s a stepping stone. It doesn’t have to be the Champions League as that can make things more difficult to gauge where you are.

“This way they can try and build something more permanent.

“I think that Everton are doing things properly as they look to progress.”

History of Everton's record signings

Everton’s first £1million player was also their first £2million player as Tony Cottee joined from West Ham for what was briefly at British transfer record fee of £2.2million in August 1988.

The fee was soon eclipsed by Ian Rush’s return to Anfield from Juventus but the Londoner remained the Blues most expensive player until a week before he left the club in September 1994.

Cottee’s return to the East End was partly due to Mike Walker financing his £3million record purchase of Daniel Amokachi from Brugge.

It was all change before the end of the year though as Walker was sacked and new boss Joe Royle broke the club record again to make on-loan Duncan Ferguson’s move to Goodison a permanent one with a £4million fee going to Rangers.

Royle would break the club record twice more as he netted Andrei Kanchelskis from Manchester United for £5million in 2005 and Nick Barmby from Middlesbrough for £5.75m in 2006.

It wouldn’t be until January 2005 that David Moyes, armed with the cash from the sale of Wayne Rooney and chasing a Champions League place, broke the record again to sign James Beattie for £6million from Southampton.

The Scot would break the record another three times to buy Andrew Johnson for £8.6million from Crystal Palace (2006), Ayegbeni Yakubu for £11.25million from Middlesbrough (2007) and Marouane Fellaini for £15million from Standard Liege in 2008.