Chelsea has finalized the acquisition of midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton for a substantial £58 million fee.
The agreement encompasses an initial payment of £53 million, supplemented by an additional £5 million contingent on certain performance-based criteria. The 19-year-old has committed to a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
This transfer has led to the anticipation that Chelsea’s primary midfield for the upcoming season will feature Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo. This trio has already earned the moniker of the ‘LFC midfield’ among Chelsea supporters, a nod to Liverpool’s unsuccessful endeavors to secure signings for both Lavia and Caicedo during this summer’s transfer window.
Expressing his enthusiasm about moving to Chelsea, Lavia conveyed, “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.”
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart, and Paul Winstanley, further commented: “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.”
Chelsea Secures Lavia Signing, Outshining Liverpool in Transfer Battle
Chelsea secured the signing of Lavia, edging out Liverpool who had also negotiated their own deal with Southampton.
According to sources speaking to Sky Sports News, the comprehensive package agreed between Liverpool and Southampton amounted to £60 million. However, the Belgian midfielder clearly expressed his desire to join Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Caicedo also ended in disappointment as the Brighton midfielder chose Chelsea instead, sealing the transfer for a British record fee of £115 million. Despite Liverpool having a £111 million offer accepted by Brighton, the 21-year-old communicated his intention to exclusively join Chelsea.
Lavia initiated his career in Belgium with Anderlecht, enjoying an eight-year tenure with the club before transitioning to Manchester City at the age of 16. His senior debut took place at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021, and he marked his presence by starting in the EFL Cup against Wycombe Wanderers, resulting in a resounding 6-1 victory.
After a solitary additional appearance for City, Lavia finalized his move to Southampton last summer. During his time at St Mary’s, he amassed 34 appearances for the Saints, a campaign that ultimately concluded with their relegation.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart, and Paul Winstanley, further stated: “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.”
