Credit : Premier League's X
LONDON, November 4, 2026 – Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Matchweek for Matchweek 9 after a commanding display in the Blues’ 2-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The league announced the award on its official X account on Wednesday, calling the Belgian’s performance “a midfield masterclass”.
Winning the fan vote
According to the Premier League’s official website, Lavia earned 35 per cent of the votes cast by fans. He beat a six-player shortlist that also included Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Paul van Hecke and Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
The 22-year-old is the fourth Chelsea player to win the award this season, following team-mates Cole Palmer in Matchweek 1, Jordan Henderson in Matchweek 6 and Pedro Neto in Matchweek 7.
The numbers behind the award
The Premier League said Lavia dominated both on and off the ball against United. He made 23 defensive contributions, including 14 ball recoveries, completed 16 line-breaking passes and won 78 per cent of his duels.
His defensive and creative qualities came together in the key moment of the match. Early in the second half, Lavia won the ball from United’s Bryan Mbeumo and quickly passed to Morgan Rogers, who drove forward and finished a superb solo goal to break the deadlock.
Cole Palmer later made it 2-0 from the penalty spot, securing the three points for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Those figures reflect both sides of his game against United: breaking up opposition attacks and then using the ball quickly and accurately to start moves going forward.
Recognition from the fans
Lavia had already been voted Player of the Match by supporters on the Chelsea Official App. He was also named, alongside Rogers and Estevao Willian, in the Premier League’s Official Fan Team of the Week for Matchweek 9, according to Chelsea’s official website.
Speaking to the club after the match, Lavia said he believed the performance laid down a marker for what he and the team are capable of this season.
Chelsea said the display further underlined his growing momentum in midfield as he continues to put a difficult period with injury behind him. It was his second full 90 minutes in the space of four days.
Chelsea back on track
The victory saw Chelsea bounce back from a league defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a Carabao Cup exit on penalties at Liverpool the previous week, and made it three wins from their last four Premier League matches, according to the club.
For Lavia, the award is further recognition of a player who has steadily become central to Chelsea’s midfield, and the Blues will hope he can keep that form going as the busy winter period approaches.
The Player of the Matchweek award is decided by a public vote on the Premier League’s official website, with nominees chosen after each round of fixtures.
Details of the award were confirmed by the Premier League’s official website and Chelsea’s official website.
Source: https://x.com/premierleague/status/2117965083770847303
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