Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has dismissed speculation about his Ghanaian heritage, insisting that he has no ancestral links to Ghana and is instead of Congolese descent.

The 22-year-old made the clarification in an interview with UK-based Ghanaian journalist Rahman Osman following Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United, as reported by Sports World Ghana.

Lavia said he had come across several social media discussions linking him to Ghana but stressed that the claims were untrue.

“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 stated.

The midfielder’s comments put to rest recurring speculation among Ghanaian football fans about his possible Ghanaian background, particularly given the country’s interest in players with dual nationalities and potential international eligibility.

Romeo Lavia was born on January 6, 2004, in Brussels, Belgium, to Congolese parents. He began his football development at Anderlecht before joining Manchester City in 2020.

He later moved to Southampton in 2022, where his impressive performances attracted interest from several top European clubs.

Chelsea eventually secured his signature in August 2023 in a deal reportedly worth £58 million.

Despite being born and raised in Belgium, Lavia has represented the Belgian national team at various youth levels and has earned senior international recognition.

His latest comments make clear that, despite persistent speculation on social media, he has no Ghanaian heritage.