Chelsea have completed the signing of midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton in a deal worth Ksh10.6 billion.

The deal is worth an initial Ksh9.7 billion plus Ksh918 million in add-ons, with the 19-year-old signing a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The transfer means Chelsea’s first-choice midfield this season will likely be comprised of Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo – a unit already being dubbed the ‘LFC midfield’ by Chelsea fans in the wake of Liverpool’s failed attempts to sign both Lavia and Caicdeo this summer.

Lavia happy

On completing his move to Chelsea, Lavia said: “I’m really happy to join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project. It’s an amazing football club with a great history, and I’m really excited to get started.

“I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and build chemistry together to achieve great things together.”

Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “We are very pleased to welcome Romeo to Chelsea. He demonstrated his quality in the Premier League last season at Southampton, showing maturity despite his young age, and is a player we have monitored for some time.

“We believe he is ready to make an impact at Chelsea throughout the current campaign, and in the coming years.”

Chelsea beat Liverpool to the signing of Lavia after the Reds agreed their own deal with Southampton.