Chelsea have completed the £58 million transfer of 19-year-old Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
According to a club announcement, Lavia has signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea, adding to Mauricio Pochettino’s roster. The transaction is for an initial £53 million plus an additional £5 million in add-ons.
Chelsea fans are excited about the prospect of Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo forming the team’s midfield this season. They have given them the nickname ‘LFC midfield’ in reference to Liverpool’s unsuccessful attempts to sign Lavia and Caicedo.
On completing his move to Chelsea, Lavia said: “I’m really happy to join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project. It’s an amazing football club with a great history and I’m really excited to get started.
“I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and build chemistry together to achieve great things together.”
Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “We are very pleased to welcome Romeo to Chelsea. He demonstrated his quality in the Premier League last season at Southampton, showing maturity despite his young age, and is a player we have monitored for some time.
“We believe he is ready to make an impact at Chelsea throughout the current campaign, and in the coming years.”
As confirmed by the club, he will wear the number 45 for Chelsea this season.
Lavia started his career with Anderlecht in his native Belgium and spent eight years with the club before joining Manchester City at the age of 16.
He impressed the club’s Under-18s and Elite Development Squad and made his senior debut in September 2021. Lavia started in the EFL Cup against Wycombe Wanderers and helped his side to a 6-1 win.
Lavia made one further first-team appearance for City before completing a switch to Southampton last summer.
In a campaign that ended in relegation for the Saints, Lavia made 34 appearances. He caught the eye with several impressive performances, including in a surprise Southampton victory at Stamford Bridge in February.