Romeo Lavia's Comeback: A Promising Season Ahead for Chelsea

Romeo Lavia, Chelsea midfielder has faced numerous challenges despite being just 20 years old. At 16, he left Anderlecht to join Manchester City in 2020, moving without his family due to the Covid pandemic. By 18, Lavia, with only two senior appearances for City, pushed for a transfer to Southampton where he experienced relegation in 2023. He then moved to Chelsea that summer as the 23rd signing of the new ownership, carrying high expectations but struggling with injuries.

Lavia managed only 29 minutes under former manager Mauricio Pochettino before suffering a significant ankle injury and a subsequent hamstring issue. Reflecting on his journey, Lavia noted that his mother never watched him play for Manchester City, highlighting the personal sacrifices he made. Despite his frustrations and feelings of unfairness during his injury-plagued first season at Chelsea, Lavia remained optimistic. “It was tough but I never complained,” he said.

This pre-season, Lavia has demonstrated his potential to new head coach Enzo Maresca. Maresca witnessed Lavia’s impressive performances during Chelsea’s US tour, where Lavia started all five games and provided two assists. Lavia, who has one Belgium cap, attracted interest from Liverpool but chose Chelsea, believing it was the right fit for his ambitions. Maresca, who previously worked with Lavia at Manchester City’s elite development squad, knows his talent well.

Romeo Lavia acknowledged that building a successful team requires time, comparing Chelsea’s journey to that of successful teams like Manchester City. As Chelsea prepares for their Premier League opener against Manchester City, Lavia looks poised to play a key role in the midfield, alongside Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Despite setbacks, Lavia remains confident about Chelsea’s future and the progress the team is making.