Belgian-Ghanaian Romeo Lavia to feature for Chelsea development squad as part of injury recuperation

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia is poised to make his first competitive appearance in over three months when he lines up for the club’s development squad against Leeds United in Premier League 2 at Cobham on Friday.

The Belgian international of Ghanaian descent has been sidelined since sustaining a quadriceps injury during Chelsea’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag on November 5, limping off early in the first half.

After a prolonged period on the sidelines, Lavia has resumed full training at Cobham earlier this month. Featuring for the development squad is seen as a measured step in his recovery, allowing the club to ease him back into competitive action while managing his fitness carefully.

Chelsea are acutely aware of Lavia’s injury history, which has curtailed his involvement since joining the club.

Signed from Southampton in the summer of 2023 for £53million plus £5million in add-ons, Lavia has struggled to establish continuity at Stamford Bridge.

Persistent physical issues have restricted him to just 30 appearances across all competitions over the last two-and-a-half years, and he is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for the club.

Chelsea’s coaching staff view the upcoming development squad match as an opportunity for Lavia to regain match sharpness ahead of potential senior team involvement.

With head coach Liam Rosenior managing the squad through a congested season, Lavia’s gradual reintroduction could provide a much-needed boost to Chelsea’s midfield resources.

If the match goes as planned and he avoids any setbacks, Lavia could soon rejoin Chelsea’s first-team preparations, offering fresh options as the club seeks to maintain its push across multiple competitions.

His return will be closely monitored by the technical team, who are balancing the demands of the Premier League and cup fixtures with the need to protect a talented player whose fitness has been a recurring concern.