The very spendthrift English club Chelsea continued its intense summer transfer window by announcing Friday the arrival of defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia (19) against nearly 68 million euros, according to the English press, paid to Southampton. The Belgian trained in Anderlecht, briefly spent by Manchester City, only played one full season at the highest level, the last, ie 34 matches with Southampton.
“He demonstrated his quality in the Premier League last season at Southampton, showing maturity despite his young age”, assured in a press release Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, co-sporting directors of Chelsea, where he signed “a contract seven years”. The relegation of the Saints, where Lavia was under contract until 2027, has fueled the greed of Chelsea and Liverpool mainly. The Blues finally prevailed, a few days after a similar battle won against the Reds for Moises Caicedo.
The “substantial” offer, according to the expression of Southampton, amounts to 53 million pounds and an additional 5 million in bonuses, or nearly 68 million euros, according to the English press. The west London club has pulled out all the stops this summer to rejuvenate and strengthen its workforce, which fell to twelfth place at the end of last season, far removed from the financial means of Todd Boehly, its American owner.
Counting only Christopher Nkunku (injured in preparation), Axel Disasi, Moises Caicedo and Lavia, Chelsea spent a sum close to 300 million euros this summer, according to press estimates. The Blues, on the other hand, failed to bring in the French international Espoir Michael Olis. The right winger extended on Thursday for four more seasons at Crystal Palace.
Todd Boehly and the Clearlake investment fund, successors to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at the head of Chelsea, invested more than 600 million euros in the transfer market last summer and this winter, without sporting success .
The new owners consumed three coaches (Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard) during their first year in charge, before appointing Mauricio Pochettino for the start of the current season.
