“I am not a Ghanaian, I am from Congo” – Chelsea star Romeo Lavia dismisses claims of Ghanaian ancestry

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has firmly dismissed long-standing speculation linking him to Ghana, insisting he has no Ghanaian ancestry and is of Congolese descent.

The 22-year-old addressed the rumours during an interview with UK-based Ghanaian journalist Rahman Osman after Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United.

Lavia revealed that he has frequently come across social media claims suggesting he has Ghanaian roots, but stressed that the reports are completely false.

“I’ve seen that a lot on social media and it’s never true. I don’t have any Ghanaian heritage, I am from Congo,” he said.

His comments put an end to recurring speculation among Ghanaian football supporters, many of whom had hoped the talented midfielder could be eligible to represent the Black Stars due to his perceived family background.

Born on January 6, 2004, in Brussels, Belgium, Lavia is the son of Congolese parents. He began his football journey in the academy of Belgian giants Anderlecht before joining Manchester City in 2020.

After a breakthrough spell at Southampton, where he emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest young midfielders, Chelsea signed him in August 2023 in a deal reportedly worth £58 million.

On the international stage, Lavia has represented Belgium at various youth levels before earning recognition with the senior national team.

While Ghana have successfully convinced several dual-nationality players to represent the Black Stars in recent years, Lavia’s latest remarks make it clear that he has no Ghanaian heritage, bringing an end to the speculation surrounding his ancestry.