Chelsea and Liam Rosenior have been given an enormous injury boost with midfielder Romeo Lavia playing his first competitive minutes since November 5 on Friday afternoon
14:07, 20 Feb 2026Updated 14:12, 20 Feb 2026
Romeo Lavia in action
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Romeo Lavia is close to returning to first-team action(Image: ANP)
Romeo Lavia completed 45 minutes for Chelsea Under-21s in their Premier League 2 clash with Leeds United at the west London club's training base in Cobham on Friday afternoon.
Lavia has been sidelined since the draw against Qarabag on November 5, with the midfielder limping off with a quad injury in the opening minutes of the Champions League clash. Chelsea are now trying to build up Lavia's fitness and in a big boost for the Blues, the midfielder managed to play the first half for the U21s.
The 22-year-old looked comfortable in possession as Chelsea took a first-half lead against Leeds after some nice work from Genesis Antwi down the right-hand side forced an own goal. There was a slight scare for Lavia, who has had a nightmare on the injury front since signing for the Blues in 2023, on 35 minutes when Ollie Pickles mistimed his sliding challenge on the Belgian, who went down in pain. Lavia, though, returned to his feet and seemed fine.
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There were a number of first-team players watching on as Lavia got his first taste of football in three-and-a-half months. Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile, Mamadou Sarr, Malo Gusto and Wesley Fofana were among the senior stars watching from the stands at the club's training base in Cobham. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior was also in the crowd along with some of his first-team players.
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Lavia has undergone a modified rehabilitation programme with Chelsea looking to find a long-term solution to the midfielder's constant injury problems since joining the club. The former Southampton man moved from St. Mary's to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 for £58million but since the switch, he has featured only 30 times in all competitions.
football.london understands Chelsea are hopeful Lavia can be named in the squad for next weekend's trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
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