Romeo Lavia
Belgian footballer.
Roméo Lavia, born on January 6, 2004, in Brussels, Belgium, is a talented defensive midfielder known for his composure and tactical intelligence. He began his career at Anderlechtt, joining their youth academy at age eight. In 2020, he moved to Manchester City, where he made his professional debut in September 2021. Lavia's potential was evident during his time with City, but he sought more playing time, leading to a transfer to Southampton in July 2022 for an initial fee of £10.5 million, plus add-ons. At Southampton, he quickly established himself, making 29 appearances and scoring one goal in the 2022/23 season.
Following Southampton's relegation, Lavia signed with Chelsea on August 18, 2023, for a reported fee of £58 million. Unfortunately, his debut season with Chelsea was marred by injury, limiting him to just one appearance in the 2023/24 season, but his talent continues to draw attention as a future star in football.
Early life & youth football
Roméo Lavia's early football journey began in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. At the age of eight, in 2012, he joined the youth academy of Anderlechtt, one of Belgium's most prestigious clubs. During his time at Anderlechtt, Lavia quickly stood out as an exceptional talent, showcasing maturity and understanding of the game beyond his years. His performances in Anderlechtt's youth teams were consistently impressive, leading to him captaining various age-group sides. Lavia's talent was further recognized when he participated in the KDB Cup, a youth tournament organized by Kevin De Bruyne. It was at this tournament that Pep Guardiola, attending as a special guest, first noticed Lavia's abilities.
Lavia spent eight formative years at Anderlechtt, from 2012 to 2020, developing his skills and football intelligence. His time at the club laid the foundation for his future success, honing his abilities as a defensive midfielder and deep-lying playmaker. Anderlechtt's head of academy, Jean Kindermans, praised Lavia's calmness on the ball and his ability to deliver passes.
Professional career
His performances at Anderlechtt caught the attention of Manchester City, leading to a significant move in the summer of 2020. At the age of 16, Lavia joined Manchester City's academy, signing his first professional contract. He quickly made an impression in the youth setup, initially playing for the U18s. After just eleven appearances, Lavia was promoted to the U23 squad in November 2020.
His impact was immediate and substantial, playing a crucial role in Manchester City's EDS team winning the Premier League 2 championship in April 2021. Lavia's performances were so impressive that he was voted the player of the season for the U23s. The 2021/22 season saw Lavia begin training with Manchester City's first team. He was included in the squad for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League, highlighting the club's faith in his abilities.
Lavia made his professional debut on September 21, 2021, at the age of 17, in a 6-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup. He followed this with another appearance in the same competition against West Ham United on October 27, 2021. Despite these glimpses of first-team action, Lavia's opportunities at City were limited due to the strong competition in midfield. This situation led to his next career move in the summer of 2022.
On July 6, 2022, Lavia joined Southampton, signing a five-year contract. The transfer fee was reported to be worth an initial £10.5 million, with potential add-ons of £3.5 million.
Interestingly, Manchester City included a buy-back clause of £40 million in the deal, demonstrating their continued belief in Lavia's potential. At Southampton, Lavia quickly established himself as a key player in the first team. He made his Premier League debut on August 6, 2022, in a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham. Despite the result, Lavia's performance was promising.
He scored his first Premier League goal on August 30, 2022, in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, becoming the first player born in 2004 to score in the Premier League. Throughout the 2022/23 season, Lavia made 29 Premier League appearances for Southampton, scoring one goal and providing one assist. His performances were a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League. Lavia's composure on the ball, tactical intelligence, and defensive abilities drew praise from pundits and attracted interest from top clubs.
Following Southampton's relegation, Lavia became the subject of intense transfer speculation. Several top Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, expressed interest in signing the young midfielder. After a protracted transfer saga, Lavia ultimately signed for Chelsea on August 18, 2023, for a reported fee of £58 million, potentially rising to £62 million with add-ons. The move to Chelsea represented a significant step up in Lavia's career, joining one of England's biggest clubs at just 19 years old.
The transfer fee reflected Chelsea's belief in Lavia's potential and their willingness to invest in young talent. Lavia's 2023/24 season with Chelsea has been a mix of adaptation and glimpses of his potential. He faced initial challenges in breaking into the first team, partly due to the competition for places in Chelsea's midfield and partly due to an injury setback early in the season. Lavia had to wait until December 27, 2023, to make his Chelsea debut, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Unfortunately, shortly after this appearance, he suffered a thigh injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023/24 season. As a result, Lavia ended the season with only one appearance for Chelsea, a disappointing outcome for a player with such high expectations.
National team
Roméo Lavia's international career has been relatively brief but promising. He has represented Belgium at various youth levels, including U15, U16, U19, and U21 teams. His performances in these youth setups were consistently impressive, showcasing his potential as a future senior team player. Lavia made his senior international debut for Belgium on March 28, 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against Germany.
He came on as a substitute in the 79th minute, replacing Youri Tielemans in a 3-2 victory. This debut at just 19 years old highlighted his rapid progression and the faith placed in him by the national team management. By the end of the 2023/24 season, Lavia had earned 3 caps for the senior Belgian national team. While still establishing himself at the senior international level, his inclusion in the squad at such a young age suggests that he is viewed as an important part of Belgium's future midfield plans.
Player’s style
Roméo Lavia is primarily a defensive midfielder known for his composure on the ball and tactical intelligence. His playing style is characterized by excellent ball retention, strong positional awareness, and the ability to read the game effectively. Defensively, Lavia excels in intercepting passes and breaking up opposition attacks. He has a good sense of timing in his tackles and uses his agility to cover ground quickly.
In possession, he is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and has the vision to play both short and long-range passes accurately. Lavia's dribbling ability allows him to progress the ball from deep positions, often evading pressure with close control. He has shown a willingness to shoot from distance, though this is not a frequent aspect of his game. Despite his young age, Lavia displays maturity in his decision-making and has the versatility to play in a single or double pivot midfield role.
His style of play has drawn comparisons to players like Sergio Busquets and Fernandinho.