Chelsea midfielder Roméo Lavia has put an end to long-standing speculation linking him to Ghana, clarifying that he has no Ghanaian ancestry and that both of his parents are from Congo.
Speaking in a brief pitchside interview outside Stamford Bridge, the 22-year-old Belgian international was asked directly to confirm persistent social media claims that he comes from a Ghanaian background.
"No, I mean, I've seen that a lot on social media, but it's not true," Lavia said. "I don't have any Ghanaian heritage. Both parents, I'm from Congo."
Reflecting on his upbringing during the same exchange, the former Southampton and Manchester City academy midfielder credited his family for his rise to the Premier League.
"Great, great, you know—both parents, brothers," Lavia added when asked about his childhood household. "It's a very good household and I'm very proud, because without them I wouldn't be here."
How the Black Stars Eligibility Rumors Started
For years, numerous sports outlets and online biographical profiles erroneously reported that the Brussels-born midfielder was born to a Ghanaian father and a Congolese mother. Those reports fueled recurring discussions among Ghanaian football fans over whether the Ghana Football Association (GFA) could persuade him to switch international allegiance to the Black Stars.
Speculation resurfaced ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup because Lavia's only initial senior appearance for Belgium had come in a non-competitive friendly against Germany in March 2023.
Beyond shutting down the ancestry rumor, Lavia has also cemented his international future with Belgium, featuring in four UEFA Nations League matches across September and October 2026 against Italy, France, and Türkiye. At club level, the midfielder played the full 90 minutes and registered an assist on Saturday afternoon as Chelsea defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
Romeo Lavia: "I've seen that a lot on social media but it's not true. I don't have any Ghanaian heritage. I'm from Congo." Chelsea midfielder denies Ghanaian roots rumours. #CFC #Lavia #BlackStars https://t.co/kUKQt2UdR1
— Playticle (@playticle) November 1, 2026
Fan Reactions (0)