Man City teen who has never played a league game sold to Southampton for £14m
Manchester City have agreed a £14million deal with Southampton for the sale of teenage midfielder Romeo Lavia.
The Belgian youth international is set to move to Southampton in an eight-figure transfer, despite never having played a league match during his two years at the Etihad Stadium. According to the Daily Mail, the Saints have agreed a deal with the Premier League champions which will include both a buy back and sell-on clause as part of the transfer.
Leeds United had also been linked with the 18-year-old earlier in the transfer window, but will now look elsewhere after being pipped to Lavia's signature by Ralph Hassenhuttl's side.
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Lavia joined City from Anderlecht in his native Belgium back in the summer of 2020, with the youngster most commonly deployed in defensive midfield. However, he is also capable of playing in central defence, a role he has featured in for City's youth sides in the past.
Despite never playing in the Premier League for City, Lavia made two senior appearances under Pep Guardiola last season, featuring in both the League Cup and FA Cup. He has also been included in matchday squads in both the league and the Champions League.
He is set to become Southampton's fourth signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who also joined from City earlier in the window.
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The Saints have also added goalkeeper Mateusz Lis and German defender Armel Bella-Kotchap to their squad ahead of next season.
Lavia may not be the last player to make the trip from the Etihad Stadium to St. Mary's, either, with the same report linking Southampton with full-back Issa Kabore.
Nottingham Forest have also been rumoured to be pursuing a move for the Burkina Faso international, who is currently halfway through a two-year loan spell in France with City's sister club Troyes.
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