Chelsea Football Club has successfully completed the signing of Romeo Lavia, a young and promising midfielder.
Ahead of his potentially swift debut for the club this upcoming weekend, his squad number at Stamford Bridge has been officially confirmed.
The transfer deal involves an initial payment of £55 million from Chelsea to Southampton, securing Lavia’s services for the club’s midfield.
Additionally, there is a possibility of an additional £3 million through add-ons, further emphasizing the club’s commitment to securing top talent.
Lavia has committed to a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, which extends until 2030.
This latest signing brings Chelsea’s spending on midfielders to an impressive total of £170 million this week alone.
Earlier in the week, the club made headlines with the record-breaking £115 million acquisition of Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
Despite strong interest from Liverpool, Lavia ultimately chose to join Chelsea, following in the footsteps of Caicedo.
This decision positions him to make his mark in west London rather than at Anfield.
Romeo Lavia, a 19-year-old player, will don the No45 shirt for Chelsea during the upcoming season.
This number holds significance as it has been worn by notable players such as Nathaniel Chalobah and Fabio Borini.
Interestingly, Lavia previously wore the same number during his time at Southampton, where he made 34 appearances across various competitions during the previous season.
The transfer deal was facilitated by Joe Shields, the co-director of recruitment and talent at Chelsea.
Shields played a pivotal role in bringing Lavia to the south coast last year after his move from Manchester City to Southampton.
His influence, combined with the efforts of co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, led to the successful completion of the transfer.
As the anticipation builds, Romeo Lavia could potentially make his debut for Chelsea in the highly anticipated top-flight derby against West Ham.
This match is scheduled to take place at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Chelsea fans eagerly await the opportunity to witness Lavia’s skills and contribution on the field as he embarks on this new chapter of his football journey.