Chelsea
have completed the signing of midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton in a
deal worth £58m.
The deal is worth an initial £53m plus £5m in add-ons with the 19-year-old
signing a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The transfer means Chelsea's first-choice midfield this season will likely
be comprised of Lavia, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - a unit already
being dubbed the 'LFC midfield' by Chelsea fans in the wake of Liverpool's
failed attempts to sign both Lavia and Caicdeo this summer.
On completing his move to Chelsea, Lavia said: "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."
Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added:
"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 edge Liverpool again in transfer market
Chelsea beat Liverpool to the signing of Lavia after the Reds agreed their
own deal with Southampton.
Sources told Sky Sports News the total package agreed between Liverpool and
Southampton was worth £60m, but the Belgian midfielder made clear his
preference for moving to Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool already missed out on Caicedo to Chelsea after the Brighton
midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge for a British record £115m. Liverpool
had a £111m offer accepted by Brighton only for the 21-year-old to inform
them he only intended to join Chelsea.
Lavia started his career in Belgium with Anderlecht, spending eight years at
club before joining Manchester City at the age of 16.
He made his senior debut at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021, started in
the EFL Cup against Wycombe Wanderers in a 6-1 victory.
The midfielder made one further appearance for City before completing a
switch to Southampton last summer. Lavia made 34 appearances for Saints in a
season that ended with relegation at St Mary's.
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