Discovered in Kevin De Bruyne’s Village: Romeo Lavia’s Hidden Story

Since Axel Witsel’s departure from the Belgian national team, football fans across the country clamored for a new defensive midfielder. Romeo Lavia answered that call. While many recognize him as Chelsea FC’s 2023 recruit, few know the remarkable journey that brought him here. Surprisingly, Romeo Lavia owes his football career to two influential figures: Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola.

It all began when Kevin invited Pep to a local football tournament in their hometown. Among the young talents competing was 14-year-old Lavia, whose standout performance caught Guardiola’s eye. From that moment, Lavia became a player of interest to Pep, setting the stage for his impressive rise in football.

Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola share a close relationship, often visiting each other’s homes. When Kevin invited Pep to watch the KDB Cup, it changed young Lavia’s life forever.

This article doesn’t just delve into Lavia’s football statistics; it explores the intricate details of his early childhood, the unwavering support from his parents in his pursuit of a professional career, and his diverse family background, including his Congolese mother and Ghanaian father.

It also touches upon his siblings, such as his brother Henri Braham Stanic, nephew Mathieu Stroeykens, and cousin Mario Stroeykens, as well as aspects of his personal life like his relationships, religion, net worth, and personality. Now, let’s dive into the captivating journey of one of football’s rapidly emerging defensive midfielders.

Preamble:

We begin Romeo Lavia’s biography by telling you about notable events relating to his boyhood years. Next, we’ll take you through the experience of his early career with S.C. Woluwe and Anderlecht. Then, we tell you that sweet story of how destiny made him cross paths with Pep Guardiola at age 14, a feat that landed him at Man City.

We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as we engage you with reading Romeo Lavia’s Biography. To begin doing that, let’s show you a photo gallery that tells the story of his early footballing years up to the moment he achieved fame. Yes, Romeo has indeed come a long way in his amazing football journey.

Yes, not everyone knew he played for Man City Senior team at the tender age of 17.

At that time, soccer fans said that Lavia’s competing with Fernandinho and Rodri in City’s first team was perhaps a little too big for his age. Lavia showed bravery by moving to Southampton, where he proved himself.

In our years of telling you the stories of Belgian Defensive Midfielders, we found a missing link.

The truth is, not many football lovers have read an in-depth version of Romeo Lavia’s Biography, which is super exciting. So, without taking further of your time, let’s get started.

Romeo Lavia Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, his nickname is Lavizzy. Roméo Lavia was born on the 6th day of January 2004 to Parents of Ghanaian descent in Brussels, Belgium.

The Belgian professional footballer is one among other of his siblings born to the union between his Ghanaian Mother and Father.

Now, let’s introduce you to one of Romeo Lavia’s Parents – His Mum. She is the woman who taught him to find joy in simplicity and remain grounded even when he finds himself reaching the stars.

Growing-Up Years:

Romeo Lavia spent his childhood years in Brussels, growing up alongside his brother, Henri, Cousin (Mario) and Nephew (Mathieu).

Brussels remains Lavia’s Belgian home, and we talk about a city often referred to as the “Capital of Europe.” Why Capital of Europe?… It is because the city hosts the headquarters of NATO, the European Union and many international organizations.

As we mentioned earlier, Romeo Lavia’s Parents didn’t have him as their only child. He grew up alongside his Siblings, notably a brother who goes by the name Henri Braham Stanic.

Pictured here together with their Mother, Henri is Romeo Lavia’s Brother (older), born on the 18th day of July 2002.

Romeo Lavia Early Life:

As a little boy growing up in Brussels, he aspired to become a professional footballer. As early as the age of 8, Lavia had begun attending trials in one of the biggest clubs in Belgium.

The year 2012, when he was 8, marked a significant moment in his life. The joy of Lavia’s family knew no bounds as he gained admission into Anderlecht’s academy.

Young Romeo showed lots of promise and maturity as an 8-year-old. It was a time when he was deeply involved in intensive football training at a centre in Neerpede, nearby Brussels.

His consistency paid off as he (7 years later) had a date with Destiny at a local international youth tournament organized by Kevin De Bruyne. As we progress with this memoir, we’ll tell you about the Athlete’s impact at the KDB Cup.

Romeo Lavia Family Background:

It is common knowledge that Ghanaian people living in Europe lead diverse lives based on their personal choices and individual circumstances. Speaking of the latter, Romeo Lavia’s parents have operated a decent or comfortable middle-class household in Brussels, the country’s capital.

Like many Ghanaian families living in Belgium, the Lavias have successfully pursued education, including career opportunities, as seen in Romeo, their breadwinner. Today, this has enabled them to achieve financial stability, including improving their socioeconomic status.

For the Lavias, the concept of family extends beyond just the immediate. As noticed from the above photo, it involves relatives and close friends who, of course, are considered part of the larger Ghanaian family network.

Just like Jeremy Doku, Lavia’s family have a balance between managing their Ghanaian traditions and Belgian customs.

Romeo Lavia Family Origin:

The Footballer, like Jeremy Doku, identifies himself as a professional footballer of Ghanaian descent. However, it is important to note that one of Romeo Lavia’s Parents (his Mum) has Congolese family origins. Romelu Lukaku is a perfect example of a top Belgian footballer with Congolese Ancestry.

Is Romeo Lavia a Ghanaian?

Yes, the Brussel-born midfielder has ancestral roots in Ghana through his Father. Before joining the Belgian national team, Lavia was eligible to represent the Black Stars of Ghana on the international stage.

Owing to the fact that Ghana is the country of his Dad, their football federation placed a call to the Midfielder. Lavia, who has been part of the Belgium U15, U16 & U17 national teams, declined to play for the Ghanaian national team.

Ethnicity:

Romeo Lavia identifies himself as a Belgian Ghanaian because he was born in Belgium and has Ghanaian descent (through his Dad).

And through his Mum (who has family origin and is tied to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lavia also identifies with the Belgian Congolese ethnic group. From a more general view, the Defensive Midfielder is an Afro-Belgian.

Romeo Lavia Education:

Thanks to the support of his parents and the Belgian Government, schooling options are available for Romeo. Like many other Brussels kids with footballing aspirations, Lavia went through compulsory schooling starting from the age of 6. While attending Primary school, he played for the local team, S.C. Woluwe. Now, let’s dive properly into his career story.

Romeo Lavia Biography – Football Story:

After showing great promise with S.C. Woluwe, he followed Youri Tielemans’s path to join Anderlecht in 2012. With Anderlecht came a bigger weight to bear, including greater challenges and responsibilities. Playing at one of Belgium’s most competitive academies, young Lavia faced challenges with a smile, and his gameplay grew with each passing mile.

Through the Anderlecht ranks, he began to rise, and in no time, the armband became his own. Like Albert Sambi Lokonga (who was once a young leader of the club), Captain Roméo led his team with a spirit that never yielded. He won lots of honours as a kid, and for the youngster, it’s not about the glory but the love for the beautiful game.

Romeo Lavia Bio – Road to Fame Story:

If you ask the Belgian professional footballer about what changed his life as a teenager, he would mention “the KDB Cup”. This is a top European youth tournament for the U15s, a competition which has Kevin De Bruyne’s initials connected to it. The KDB Cup gets requests from football academies from all continents, such as Japan and Brazil.

The KDB Cup competition has always inspired Romeo Lavia. While at Anderlecht, he saw the likes of Ilaix Moriba from FC Barcelona becoming the best player in the competition’s 2017 edition. Do you know?… He was even more inspired by his Big brother, Jeremy Doku  (from RSC Anderlecht), grabbing the competition’s best player award.

Meeting Destiny at the KDB Cup:

On a beautiful day, Pep Guardiola agreed to fly over to see the KDB Cup talents with his own eyes. Roméo Lavia happened to be the only kid who caught the Man City Manager’s attention in that tournament. The talented teen sensation of Ghanaian heritage showed lots of maturity and technical qualities in leading his team to several victories.

Pep Guardiola was the guest of honour at the competition hosted by Kevin De Bruyne in the midfielder’s home town of Drongen. He was thrilled by Romeo Lavia, who helped inspire his Anderlecht team to defeat top teams like Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. From the moment the boy from Brussels lifted the KDB trophy, his life changed forever.

Do you know?… Lavia led his team to win the trophy despite being a year younger than most of his opposition players and his teammates.

Just after the tournament, words about his talent began to spread across top European teams. It was said that the likes of Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea were interested in signing the Rising Star.

A New Life:

If you watch Man City games, you’ll realize that Pep Guardiola is someone who loves a player with box-to-box midfield capabilities. In Romeo Lavia, the Man City Boss believed his club had found someone who could be moulded in the image of Fernandinho and the great Sergio Busquets.

After seeking the advice of his family, the Brussel-born midfielder joined Man City on a three-year deal on July 2020. Lavia once acknowledged that leaving his boyhood club at the age of 16 to join City was a daunting task. And the offer he had from Manchester City pushed him out of Anderlecht. Speaking with Voetbalkrant.com, the talented Baller said,

“It was difficult to leave Anderlecht, but I just couldn’t refuse the offer from the Citizens,”

While at City, Lavia got himself a role model, the person of Fernandinho, the Great Brazilian midfield enforcer. The Ex-Man City Captain became his example, and Lavia enjoyed the way Fernandinho inspired him.

Romeo Lavia Biography – Rise to Fame Story:

Upon his arrival in England, the 16 year old Brussel Talent enrolled in Manchester City’s U18 team. While playing for the U18, Romeo made a huge impression, impressing the academy staff. He quickly stood out, and just after 11 games, he got a deserved promotion to Man City’s U23 team.

Truth be told, at that tender age of 16, when Lavia moved to England, many had thought he would spend the bulk of the 2019/2020 season with the U18s. His progression to Enzo Maresca‘s U23 team was very fast. Do you know?… Lavia was part of a great Man City reserve team that included other talented teenagers like Cole Palmer (AM), Liam Delap (son of Liam, the Stoke city Legend), Oscar Bobb, a fast-rising Micah Hamilton, etc.

With the U23, he took control of the City midfield, including playing a major role in the defeat of City’s rivals like Manchester United. Lavia’s first biggest achievement with Man City’s U23 team was winning the Premier League 2 championship in April 2021. The achievements of the Belgian youngster didn’t end there, as he was voted player of the season.

Senior Career Preparation:

Following his meteoric rise, including winning the Premier League 2 championship, there came calls that he deserved to have a shot at City’s senior team. While he prepared himself for the professional world, Lavia told Goal that he watched lots of videos of his role models, Fernandinho and Sergio Busquets. He said;

“Those two have dominated the game alot as defensive midfielders.

I’ve looked at them a lot.

Fernandinho knows what he’s doing – he doesn’t run just to run. He’s like the brain of the team.

“When you’re not experienced, you want to run – left, right – but Fernandinho knows what he’s doing.

so he won’t run as much, but will still be effective. That’s something I keep learning from him.

Senior Football Life:

Starting from the summer of 2021, the joy of Romeo Lavia’s Parents knew no bounds as their son began training with City’s first team. He trained with youngsters like Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Julián Álvarez, who had a big future ahead of them.

Young Lavia earned Pep’s trust, and that came through his selection into the squad of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League. At last, his much-awaited professional debut came when he was aged seventeen on the 21st day of September 2021.

In his debut match (a 2021–22 EFL Cup), City won against Wycombe Wanderers (6-1). The goalscorers were; Cole Palmer, James McAtee (AM), Ruben Dias (CB), Gabriel Jesus (CF), Bernardo Silva, Portugese right back Joao Cancelo and Scott Carson.

After his debut match, Football Pundits noticed there exist similarities between Lavia and Fernandinho. However, it was mentioned that the young Belgian had yet to possess the mastery of what is called ‘the dark arts, ‘ which made an experienced Fernandinho rise to any challenge.

The decision to move on:

Despite possessing strengths when on the ball and the ability to make line-breaking passes from deep (a skill that Guardiola loves), Lavia knew he wouldn’t get first-team selection. And if he had stayed at Man City, he would only be featured in Carabao Cup ties, something he wouldn’t like. Or the popular off-the-bench selection in an already-won Premier League match.

Lots of football clubs were put on alert, as they knew Romeo Lavia wouldn’t be a starter for Guardiola. On 6 July 2022, the ex-Anderlecht star joined Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton team on a five-year contract. He became Hasenhuttl’s fourth summer signing after Gavin Bazunu, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mateusz Lis.

Less than six weeks after signing for the Saints, an 18-year-old Lavia emerged as the poster boy for the club. Throughout the 2022/2023 season, there came a constant deal of satisfaction among Saints fans that their club had acquired a rare gem of a footballer. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Romeo Lavia’s Girlfriend?

Having risen so fast in his career at a very young age, it is obvious that the former Man City defensive midfielder has lots of potential. For a footballer like Lavia, who is bound for success, fans have recently pondered as to whether Romeo has a Girlfriend or wife in the making.

At the time of writing Romeo Lavia’s Biography, he is still maturing and figuring out what he wants from maintaining a relationship. This crucial time requires full attention, dedication, and commitment to the sport. As of 2023, many young footballers like him (the likes of Nico Jackson and Rico Lewis) choose to stay single to fully concentrate on their career development.

Personal Life:

A lot of fans have asked;

Who is Romeo Lavia?

Lavia’s happiness is not tied to materialistic gains or external circumstances, which often fluctuate. Rather, it is rooted in life’s simplest things. We talk about constants that remain steady even when life gets tough. Image: Instagram/lavizzy6.

Starting off, the Belgian is as humble as Ngolo Kante, and he believes in the saying that the simplest things can bring the most happiness. In a nutshell, Lavia exhibits both humility and a certain resilience. His happiness is not tied to materialistic gains, and his ability to find happiness in the little things makes him resilient and mentally stronger, even in the face of adversity.

According to ZodiacSign.com, a person like Lavia, who was born on the 6th of January, has a natural understanding of partnership. And most importantly, the desire to search for what he wants in life (freedom).

If you can recall, in the earlier part of Romeo Lavia’s Biography, he left both Anderlecht and Manchester City so he could achieve career satisfaction (be a first-team player). Despite living, Lavia still maintains a good relationship with De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola, who still have praise for the Belgian.

Lifestyle:

Speaking of the way he lives, Romeo Lavia is someone who doesn’t shy from enjoying the more glamorous and exciting side of life. The Belgian Athlete loves to hang out with friends in flashy cars, a feat that shows he enjoys the luxury that comes with his success.

However, it is pertinent to state that this doesn’t necessarily contradict Romeo’s belief in simple happiness. In a nutshell, the Southampton Defensive Midfielder appreciates the simple and luxurious aspects of life without diminishing the other. He sees hanging out with friends as an avenue to have fun, relax, share success with friends and enjoy the fruit of his handwork on the field.

Romeo Lavia Family Life:

As noticed in this Bio, the success of his household is interwoven with the beautiful game of football. In this section, we’ll tell you about the resilient and hardworking unit, made up of parents who originally hailed from Ghana but are now proud Belgians.

About Romeo Lavia Father:

While much of the Athlete’s life is shared on Social media with some family members and fans, there’s an element of his personal life that remains veiled. That element is Romeo Lavia’s relationship with his Dad.

At the time of writing this Bio, little is known about Romeo’s dad. Research has it that the Belgian star maintains a level of privacy about his Dad. What we do know, however, is that Romeo’s father has roots in Ghana.

About  Romeo Lavia Mother:

She, having a Congolese lineage, contributes to her son’s rich multicultural heritage. It is a proven fact that Romeo Lavia’s footballing success is a tribute to the unwavering support of his mother. As noticed in this Bio, his mother’s influence has been palpable since his early days of success with Anderlecht.

About Romeo Lavia Siblings:

His older brother, Henri Braham Stanic, was born in Jette, one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. Standing at a height of 1,89 meters, he is a central Defender who plays for Liepaja, a Latvian football club founded in 2014. And among Romeo Lavia’s siblings is his youngest brother, who appears to be the last born in his family.

Romeo Lavia’s Cousin and Nephew:

Mario Stroeykens, born on the 29th day of September 2004 in Zellik, is Romeo Lavia’s cousin. As of 2023, he (a graduate of Anderlecht’s academy) plays as an Attack and Second Striker for the club’s senior team.

Mathieu Stroeykens, born on the 19th of August 2002, is a nephew to Romeo Lavia. He is a citizen of Belgium and a professional goalkeeper who graduated from Anderlecht’s academy. Mathieu Stroeyken, in July 2021, graduated from the Anderlecht U18 team.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Romeo Lavia’s Biography, we’ll unveil truths you might not know about him. We talk about the Incredible Midfielder, who shares the same agent as Bukayo Saka. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Romeo Lavia FIFA:

While video games like FIFA strive to replicate the players’ real-world attributes, it is no longer news that discrepancies exist. Romeo Lavia, like Renato Veiga, suffers poor FIFA ratings. While his potential rating of 86 indeed aligns with the promising future most fans foresee for him, his overall rating looks bad.

Given the immense talent Romeo Lavia displays on the field, a comprehensive upgrade in his ratings would add a layer of authenticity to the FIFA game. The truth is, he deserves the stats enjoyed by other top defensive midfielders, such as Sandro Tonali and Moises Caicedo. Let’s not forget the fast-rising Manuel Ugarte.

Romeo Lavia Salary:

The 2022 contract he signed with Southampton sees him earning the sum of £1,302,000 per year. When you look at Lavia’s earnings from a Ghanaian perspective, it is equivalent to GH₵19,516,875.

As revealed from the Capology report below, Lavia earns above Kyle Walker-Peters, Amel Bella Kochap and Tino Livramento. And the likes of Chi Adams, Nigerian Paul Onuachu, Ghanian Mohammed Salisu, etc., earn above him.

How rich is the Belgian Athlete of Ghanaian Origin?

In the country of Romeo Lavia’s Parents’ Origin (Ghana, for his Dad), the average person living in Ghana earns around GH₵ 60,840 per year. Do you know?… Such a person would need to work for 26.7 years to make GH₵1,626,406.

Romeo Lavia Religion:

While his social media presence gives us glimpses of his professional life and personal interests, it has not shed light on his religious beliefs or affiliations. However, given the cultural and religious trends within the Ghanaian and Congolese communities in Belgium, it’s plausible to infer that Romeo Lavia may identify as Christian.

EndNote:

Romeo Lavia’s family (including extended) members are made up of Athletes. They (who are proud Belgians) are a resilient and hardworking unit whose ancestral origins are traced to Ghana and Congo. Roméo Lavia was born to a Ghanaian Dad and a Congolese Mother.

The Defensive Midfielder grew up alongside his brother, Henri Braham Stanic. Romeo Lavia has an extended family of professional footballers. Chiefly among them (Soccer Athletes) include Mathieu Stroeykens, his nephew and Mario Stroeykens, his cousin.

Since childhood, the beautiful game has helped a special place in Lavia’s heart. Romeo, from his academy years with Anderlecht, was often seen as a very special boy. In addition, the little discreet soccer talent was a discreet leader in his team. Romeo moved up the  Anderlecht’s youth categories very quickly, and everyone saw he was destined for greatness.

Journey to Fame:

The Belgian-born Ghanaian teenager got the opportunity of his life when he participated in the KDB Cup. At a local international youth tournament in which he led his team to win, lucky Lavia was noticed for the first time by Pep Guardiola, the guest of honour at the football event.

The major highlight of the Belgian youngster at the Man City youth team came when he (in April 2021) helped his team to win the Premier League 2 championship.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City’s first team was perhaps a little too big for Lavia’s young age. The 18-year-old joined the likes of Carlos Borges, who took the Jadon Sancho approach by transferring to another top-tier football club.

Although the club he joined (Southampton) was relegated in the 2022/2023 season, Romeo was able to achieve a meteoric rise with them. As I conclude this Bio, the little boy who left abroad at a young age is (together with Khephren Thuram) seen as a transfer target for English Premier League teams.

Truth be told, Romeo Lavia, who is valued at £50m, has many rough edges smoothed over already. As many Belgian supporters have said, he has proven over and over again that there is indeed life after Axel Witsel. Indeed, Lavia’s Story is a compelling illustration of the transformative power of a boy who achieved football greatness from an early age.

Final Note:

Please reach out to us (especially via comment) if you find anything incorrect in this memoir of the former KDB Cup winner. A Baller whom Arsenal admires even after their capture of Declan Rice.

Aside from Romeo Lavia’s Biography, we’ve got other Soccer Stories (male and female) that’ll captivate your interest in reading. Don’t forget to read the Life History of Cheick Doucoure and Amadou Onana.  Thank you for taking the time to read this version of Romeo Lavia’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver football stories of Belgian Football Athletes. Lavia’s Bio is part of our wider version of the defensive Middfield category archive.