Chelsea comfirm the signing Lavia from Southampton.
Belgian midfielder agrees to a seven-year deal and will wear the No 45 shirt
Chelsea have completed the signing of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Lavia, 19, joins Chelsea on a seven-year deal and will wear the No 45 shirt.
Chelsea comfirm the signing Lavia from Southampton.
“The project and ambitions of the club, but also the history behind the club, were key factors in my choosing Chelsea,” Lavia told the club’s official website.
“I’m overjoyed and proud. It’s an honour to be able to wear this shirt. The majority of the players we’ve signed are players I’ve played against and thought, ‘oooof, these players are good,’ so being able to work with them is fantastic.
“They are both young and talented players, so it will be beneficial for them to help each other improve.” That is the only way to be successful.”
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Lavia is in his fourth season in England, having joined Manchester City’s Academy at the age of 16 after being seen by Pep Guardiola at a youth competition in Belgium organized by City captain Kevin De Bruyne.
The 19-year-old spent two seasons with City, immediately impressing at junior level and earning a first-team debut in the EFL Cup against Wycombe Wanderers, as well as winning City’s Elite Development Squad Player of the Season award in 2020/21.
Lavia joined Southampton last summer and appeared in 29 Premier League games. He won possession 187 times during the season and was one of just three adolescents in Europe’s top five leagues at the start of 2022/23 to try at least 60 tackles.
Lavia becomes Chelsea’s 13th addition of the summer, further reinforcing their midfield following the recent purchase of Moises Caicedo for a rumoured British record transfer cost of £115 million.
Chelsea fans may see him for the first time on Sunday when they face West Ham United at London Stadium.
