Romeo Lavia will be out for at least a month after suffering a quadriceps problem that forced him off after just four minutes of last week’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Qarabag. The 21-year-old’s early withdrawal was only his fourth start since returning from the injury he picked up at the Club World Cup.
Signed from Southampton for £53m in 2023 after turning down Liverpool, Lavia’s spell at Stamford Bridge has been disrupted by repeated fitness issues. He has appeared 29 times for Chelsea but has missed 88 matches over two and a half seasons with hamstring, thigh and other injuries, and he is yet to play a full 90 minutes for the club.
Chelsea have deliberately managed his minutes, generally limiting him to one match per week to protect his conditioning — a precaution similar to the approach used to help captain Reece James recover. The latest setback means Lavia is expected to miss upcoming fixtures including Burnley, Barcelona, Arsenal, Leeds, Bournemouth and Atalanta.
The injury arrives while Chelsea sit third in the Premier League following Saturday’s 3-0 win over Wolves. The club will monitor his recovery over the coming weeks before confirming a return date.
