Chelsea has finalized the first £53 million signing of Belgium’s midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton despite interest from Liverpool.
The 19-year-old has committed to a seven-year deal worth up to a further £5 million in add-ons.
Lavia appeared in 34 games across all competitions last season, but she was unable to stop the Saints from being demoted from the Premier League.
“I’m really happy join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project,” Lavia stated.
“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 a chemistry to achieve great things together.”
Liverpool was also interested in Lavia, but the Saints rejected the Reds’ third offer earlier this month, which is thought to have been for almost £46 million plus add-ons.
Lavia follows Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for a £100 million transfer price that might increase to a British record £115 million, as the second player this week to choose Chelsea over Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Liverpool was also interested in Lavia, but the Saints rejected the Reds’ third offer earlier this month, which is thought to have been for almost £46 million plus add-ons.
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Lavia follows Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for a £100 million transfer price that might increase to a British record £115 million, as the second player this week to choose Chelsea over Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Lavia, who went through Anderlecht’s youth program, joined Manchester City in 2020 after Pep Guardiola noticed him at a match in Belgium.
The young player, who struggled to break into City’s first squad and only had two senior games at the club (in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup), joined Saints in July 2022 for £10.5 million.
Due to a sell-on clause, City will get 20% (£10.6 million) of the initial £53 million sum paid by Southampton.
Earlier this year, Lavia earned his international debut for Belgium, replacing another player with ten minutes left in a friendly win against Germany.