Chelsea have signed Romeo Lavia from Southampton for a reported £58m.
The 19-year-old talent, touted for his promising potential, has signed a seven-year contract with the London club, marking a significant step in his burgeoning career.
The transfer, initially valued at £53 million, could potentially rise by an additional £5 million due to various add-ons.
Romeo Lavia’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite his tender age, he made an impressive 34 appearances across all competitions in the previous season.
In a statement expressing his enthusiasm for the new chapter in his football journey, 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 to achieve great things together.”
Beginning his development in Anderlecht’s youth system, Lavia’s potential was spotted by none other than Pep Guardiola during a tournament in Belgium.
This led to a move to Manchester City in 2020.
However, despite his undeniable talent, he found breaking into City’s star-studded lineup a challenge, making only two senior appearances in domestic cup competitions.
In a strategic move to gain more playing time and experience, Lavia made the switch to Southampton in July 2022 for a transfer fee of £10.5 million.
This move proved pivotal in his development, as he established himself as a promising midfield force during his brief time with the club.
Manchester City, due to a sell-on clause, stand to receive 20% (£10.6 million) of the initial £53 million fee paid to Southampton.
