Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has been dealt another setback after suffering a quadriceps injury during the Blues’ Champions League clash against Qarabag last week, ruling him out for at least a month.
The 21-year-old Belgian made a rare start in the European fixture but lasted just eight minutes before being forced off and replaced by Moises Caicedo.
Injuries have blighted Lavia’s Chelsea career since his £58 million move from Southampton in 2023. Despite his immense potential, he has only managed 30 appearances for the club.
21 of these matches came in the Premier League, a stark contrast to the 34 games he played for Southampton during the 2022–23 campaign, when he first caught the eye as one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League.
At Stamford Bridge, Lavia is internally regarded as a capable deputy for either Enzo Fernandez or Caicedo, but his persistent fitness struggles have left Chelsea with a dilemma. The club may now be forced to re-enter the transfer market for midfield reinforcements when the window opens.
Youngsters Dario Essugo and Andrey Santos are available alternatives, though Essugo is also currently sidelined, while Santos, some may say, is still adapting to the demands of the Premier League.
For Lavia, the immediate priority will be achieving full recovery before returning to action. Chelsea’s medical staff are expected to take a cautious approach to avoid a recurrence of the problem, meaning his next appearance may not come until the turn of the year or early 2026.
Lavia’s ongoing battle with injuries continues to frustrate both the player and supporters, as Chelsea await the moment their talented young midfielder can finally deliver on his immense potential.
