Romeo Lavia nearing Chelsea first‑team return after injury‑hit spell

​Romeo Lavia is set to take an important step in his comeback today as he lines up for Chelsea’s Under‑21s against Leeds in Premier League 2, a run‑out designed to sharpen his fitness before a long‑awaited return to the senior side.

The 22‑year‑old midfielder has completed two full weeks of training without any setbacks, and Chelsea staff are hopeful he will be ready to feature in next weekend’s Premier League clash with Arsenal if he comes through this latest test well.

It has been a difficult Chelsea journey for Lavia since his move from Southampton in 2022, with a series of injury problems repeatedly interrupting his progress and limiting his impact.

In the 2025/2026 campaign across all competitions, he has managed just 7 appearances from a possible 39, averaging only 34 minutes per game as the club carefully manages his workload.

Over the longer term, the former Manchester City youngster has played 30 matches and registered one assist for Chelsea between 2023 and now, underlining how stop‑start his spell in west London has been.

Chelsea see this U21 outing as a low‑pressure way to rebuild rhythm, confidence and match sharpness before throwing Lavia back into the intensity of Premier League football. If he can finally stay fit, his press‑resistant style, composure on the ball and ability to shield the back four could give Chelsea’s midfield a major boost in the second half of the season.

For now, all eyes will be on how his body responds to this latest milestone, with the club and fans quietly optimistic that this might be the moment his Stamford Bridge career truly gets going.