Southampton have completed the signing of Romeo Lavia from Manchester City in a deal that could reach £14m.
Southampton will pay an initial £10m for the rising Belgian midfielder with further add-ons structured into the deal which also contains a buyback clause in the region of £40m for City.
Lavia, 18, has become Southampton’s fourth summer signing and the latest player to move to St Mary’s from one of the top flight’s elite sides in a bid to kick-start their senior careers with first-team, Premier League football.
Tino Livramento was a big beneficiary of the platform Southampton are able to offer young talent last season following his permanent move from Chelsea.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has also made the same move as Lavia from City this summer while Armando Broja got his first taste of regular Premier League football during a loan spell at Southampton, from Chelsea, last season.
Lavia, who joined City from Anderlecht in 2020, has yet to make his Premier League debut, making his two appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side in cup competitions, but his capture is still something of a coup for Southampton.
The holding midfielder, who has represented Belgium from under-15 up to under-21 level, is rated as one of Europe’s most promising teenagers.
And the prospect of playing more regular Premier League football at Southampton has been behind his move.