Chelsea have announced the signing of Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The Blues paid £58 million ($74 million) for the midfielder.
The Belgian midfielder signed a seven-year contract with the London club after the Saints accepted a bid of £53 million ($68 million) plus £5 million ($6 million) in add-ons. In the 2023-24 season, he will wear the No. 45 jersey.
Lavia came through the Anderlecht youth system and spent eight years there before joining Manchester City at the age of 16. However, he only played one senior game for the Premier League champions before being moved to Southampton.
Despite the Saints’ relegation last season, Lavia was a bright spark in midfield, attracting interest from Chelsea and Liverpool. Lavia rejected the Reds in a transfer battle that also involved Moises Caicedo in favor of Chelsea.
“I’m really happy 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 team-mates and build a chemistry together to achieve great things together,” Lavia said after completing the move.
Lavia will seek to make his Chelsea Premier League debut against West Ham on Sunday, with £115 million ($146 million) signing Caicedo also expected to appear.
