Romeo Lavia: Why the Premier League's biggest clubs are queuing up to sign the £40m-rated Southampton teenager

Watching Lavia, it is easy to see that this is a player who has been well-schooled. Born in Brussels, though he is of Ghanaian heritage, he joined Anderlecht at the age of eight and progressed through their ranks until being snapped up by Manchester City just after his 16th birthday in 2020.

He settled well at the Etihad. Though relatively small in stature - he has grown to near six foot now - his composure, awareness and ability to play the ball under pressure meant he was used as a deep-lying midfielder in City’s Elite Development Squad (EDS), where he featured alongside the likes of Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Liam Delap and Samuel Edozie, who, along with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and defender Juan Larios, joined Lavia in swapping Manchester for Southampton last summer.

That EDS side was good enough to win the Premier League 2 title in both 2021 and 2022 - they retained the title, without Lavia, this season - with Lavia making his senior City debut against Wycombe in the Carabao Cup in September 2021. He would follow that up with a second, and final, appearance away to Swindon in the FA Cup in January 2022.

The manner in which Lavia has settled in at Southampton, making 33 appearances in all competitions this season, has been impressive, but not entirely surprising, given the education he received during his two-year stay at City.

The influence of Fernandinho was particularly helpful for a youngster learning the game as a defensive midfield player. In an interview with GOAL back in 2021, Lavia explained how the Brazilian had become a source of inspiration for him.

"I’ve watched a lot of Fernandinho and [Sergio] Busquets,” Lavia said. “Those two have dominated the game as defensive midfielders [so] I’ve looked at them a lot... Fernandinho knows what he’s doing - he doesn’t run just to run. He’s like the brain of the team. When you’re young you want to run - left, right - but he knows what he’s doing so he won’t run as much, but will still be effective. That’s something I keep learning from him.”

At Southampton, Lavia knew he would have big shoes to fill. He effectively became the replacement for Oriol Romeu, who had patrolled Saints’ midfield for the previous seven years but who was surprisingly sold to Girona last September. 

Romeu was known for his robust style and calmness on the ball, and it quickly became apparent that Lavia, although a different kind of player generally, bore plenty of similarities with the Spaniard. Certainly, there was a composure which belied his tender years, and his ability to read the game and retain possession made him an instant hit with supporters and team-mates.

“You can clearly see that he's got the ability,” said club captain James Ward-Prowse as early as last September. “And he knows what he's doing so you might not need to give him as much [guidance].

“You can see immediately the quality and the eagerness and the kind of ‘no fear factor’ these young players have. They want to have the ball and they want to get involved and do everything. It's exciting to be part of and it's up to us as the older experienced players to try and help them along their journey.”

That journey, of course, would end in relegation, but if Ward-Prowse is a player who can expect to earn a transfer despite that disappointment, then so too, most definitely, is Lavia.

There were more than a few eyebrows raised within the game when it emerged that Lavia was on the move last summer. Many had expected City to begin to integrate him into their first team, but the signing of Kalvin Phillips from Leeds effectively put an end to that idea. And there were more eyebrows raised when, just weeks after Lavia’s arrival at Southampton, Chelsea tried to sign him, offering Saints an immediate, and substantial profit on their investment. 

“I will never understand this to be honest,” said the then-Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl. “Let them play a good season. I remember when I was playing, you needed two or three good seasons before people talk about you as a good one. Now, meanwhile, three or four games are enough!

"Give them time, keep it calm. I know that you want to have stars and create stars, but it doesn't help the players and very often the opposite happens. This is why I try to keep them grounded and let them do their job."

Chelsea’s approach, believed to be worth as much as £50m ($62m), was rejected, but the Londoners remain firm admirers. Their co-director of recruitment and talent, Joe Shields, was one of those responsible for taking Lavia to Southampton, having previously worked as head of academy recruitment at Manchester City, and scouts regularly attend games at St Mary’s, with their feedback on Lavia overwhelmingly positive.

Liverpool, too, are aware of Lavia’s progress. The Reds are preparing a substantial overhaul of their midfield options this summer, and while their top targets - among them Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Mason Mount - are a little more experienced and a little more attack-minded, there are plenty at Anfield who believe Lavia is a player who could make a difference to Jurgen Klopp’s side, both now and in the future. 

A strong performance against the Reds this weekend, in what is essentially a dead-rubber fixture for both sides, could do his prospects of a move to Merseyside no harm at all.

Of course, Lavia’s connection with City means the prospect of a return to the Etihad Stadium will always exist, especially with the Premier League champions retaining a £40m ($50m) buy-back clause which comes into operation in the summer of 2024.

Guardiola spoke glowingly about the Belgian before City’s trip to St Mary’s last month. “I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing,” he said. “We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not get enough minutes like he has in Southampton. [It is a] good experience to go to the Premier League and play at this early age. So important.”

Inevitably, given both the player’s age and the struggles of Southampton, there will be doubts around Lavia’s readiness for a big-money move this summer. Even Ruben Selles, who has been in charge of Saints’ since the sacking of Nathan Jones in February, has expressed reservations.

“Romeo has all the qualities to become a great player, but I don’t think he’s there yet,” Selles said recently. “And this is why he didn’t impress me. I have worked with talent, and to make the next step he needs to show more domination in the games, more domination in possession, more leadership on the pitch if he wants to become the thing that everybody says about him.”

In terms of statistics, Lavia shows up well in certain aspects - he ranks well among Premier League midfielders for possession won, duel success and tackles - but there is certainly a feeling that there is more to come in terms of his on-ball contribution.

Playing in a better side, of course, would help unlock that extra level. And judging by the interest he’s receiving, it won’t be long before that happens.