Roméo Lavia

Key strength: Defensive positioning and ball circulation

Deep-lying playmaker / Ball-winning midfielder

At just 21 years old, Roméo Lavia sits on the fringes of Chelsea's midfield evolution as the Blues navigate a competitive campaign from 5th position in the table. The Belgian defensive midfielder, valued at an impressive £35 million, represents one of the club's shrewder investments—a young talent being carefully integrated into a star-studded engine room alongside compatriot Moisés Caicedo and England internationals like Reece James. Though his minutes remain measured—180 across 3 appearances with a single assist to his name—Lavia's role as a deep-lying playmaker offers Chelsea a different dimension. His 70 overall rating masks genuine promise; with 70s across pace, passing, defending and physicality, he brings a rare balance of ball-winning tenacity and composed distribution. Operating in a crowded midfield rotation means every minute matters, and that one assist already demonstrates his vision from deep positions. As the season unfolds and fixtures pile up, this Anderlecht academy graduate—whose journey through Manchester City's youth system sharpened his tactical understanding—will be pushing for greater involvement. For now, he's the insurance policy with world-class potential, waiting for his moment to anchor Chelsea's midfield in the high-stakes matches that define trophy-chasing campaigns.