August 18, (THEWILL) – Chelsea have completed the signing of 19-year-old midfielder, Romeo Lavia, from Southampton, both clubs confirmed on Friday.
The talented Belgian youth international moves to Stamford Bridge for a reported transfer fee of £55 million on a seven-year contract after joining Southampton just last summer from Manchester City. He made 34 appearances across all competitions for the Saints, scoring one goal, but could not prevent their relegation from the English Premier League.
However, his impressive performances caught the eye of Chelsea and other top clubs. “I’m delighted to join Chelsea, a massive club with an exciting project happening,” Lavia said. “I look forward to meeting my new teammates and working hard to achieve success together.”
Chelsea see Lavia as a key part of their future midfield. “Despite his young age, he demonstrated quality and maturity in the Premier League last season,” said Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.
The 19-year-old will provide competition for Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic at the base of Chelsea’s midfield. His signing represents another building block as new co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali aim to construct a new era at Stamford Bridge. It brings an end to the tussle for Lavia’s signature between Chelsea and Liverpool.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
