Romeo Lavia reveals his THREE reasons for picking Chelsea and snubbing Liverpool as his £58m transfer is announced… and ex-Southampton star says ‘history’ is one of them!

Chelsea’s new signing Romeo Lavia has revealed the three reasons that persuaded him to join the West London giants.

Keen to bolster their midfield options this summer, the Blues completed the signing of Lavia for £58 million on Friday morning – just days after the signing of Moises Caicedo.

The Belgium international has penned a seven-year deal with the west London giants after completing his medical on Thursday, as Mail Sport revealed.

Interest in the former Southampton star has been ongoing throughout the transfer window and at one point it looked like he might sign for Liverpool.

The Reds were in hot pursuit of the 19-year-old and submitted multiple offers to the Saints, only for Chelsea to swoop in and reach an agreement with the club.

Despite interest from Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino’s side sealed the Belgium international

And in his first conversation after signing for Chelsea, Lavia revealed the ‘three factors’ that convinced him to join the Blues.

“I think the project and the club’s ambitions were key factors, but also the history behind it, so these three factors drove my decision,” he said.

Lavia also spoke on the club’s website, after sealing his move, where he said: ‘I’m really happy to be joining Chelsea and being a part of this exciting project. It’s a great football club with a great history and I’m very excited to get started.

“I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and build a chemistry together to achieve great things together.”

The 19-year-old will wear the number 45 shirt for the Blues, the same number he wore during his one year at Southampton.

The Belgian international also wrote an emotional message to his followers on Friday morning, prior to the official announcement, to say goodbye to the club.

He wrote: ‘To Saints fans. As I say goodbye, I want to thank you so much for everything you’ve given me during my time here. “I immediately felt the love from all of you, even though we didn’t reach our shared goals.

The Belgian star will wear number 45 for Chelsea – the same as at Southampton

Lavia confirmed his imminent departure just hours before the club’s official announcement

“I will never forget the faith the club and Saints showed me around the world and I hope I was able to repay the trust you placed in me.

“I would like to especially thank all my teammates and all staff members within the club, whether closely involved with the club or not, for their arms around me since the day I walked through the Staplewood Campus and for all the day-to-day work and the behind the scenes help making me a better person, athlete and footballer.

Good luck this season and I look forward to seeing the club march back to the Premier League where they belong soon! Thanks Saints. Romeo.’

As Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday, the deal includes a further £5m in add-ons – with Chelsea’s spending under US owner Todd Boehly now poised to break the £1bn mark.

The 19-year-old made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Saints in 2022/23

Lavia joined Southampton from Manchester City last season after impressing during his formative years in the academy with the reigning Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola rejected the buy-back option included in his contract with the south coast club, but will recover 20 per cent of the resale fee from the Chelsea deal.

Lavia – a Belgium international – enjoyed a breakthrough in England’s top flight last season, making 29 Premier League appearances, but was unable to help the Saints stay out of the drop zone.

His decision to reject Liverpool means Klopp will now look for alternatives during the remaining days of the transfer window.

Liverpool have turned to other goals after missing out on the former Southampton star

And the Reds have wasted no time in doing so, as Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday night, when they made a surprise £16 million bid for 30-year-old Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo.

Japan’s combative captain Endo is well known to Liverpool sporting director Jorge Schmadtke and can also play as a centre-back. He has to go to Merseyside for a medical.

Gravenberch, 21, is open to leaving as he wants to play more regularly. Bayern have so far resisted the sale, but they are overloaded with midfielders and under pressure to make money back after the £100m signing of Harry Kane.

Liverpool have also questioned Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure as they consider targets in midfield after failing to sign Caicedo or Lavia.