Lavia backs VR football training firm Be Your Best

Roméo Lavia has invested in football technology company Be Your Best, which uses virtual reality training to improve decision-making.

The investment links the Premier League midfielder with an Oslo-based business whose platform is already used by professional clubs, elite players and amateur users looking to improve what coaches often call football intelligence.

Be Your Best focuses on the cognitive side of the game rather than physical conditioning. Its training modules are designed to help players improve scanning, awareness and decision-making by placing them in simulated match situations through Meta Quest virtual reality headsets.

The system lets players repeat scenarios away from the pitch, including during injury recovery or alongside normal training schedules. That crossover between on-pitch and off-pitch work has become an increasing area of interest in elite sport as clubs look for ways to prepare players while limiting physical load.

Lavia, who plays for Chelsea and Belgium, said his backing reflects the rising speed of the modern game and the importance of making decisions before receiving the ball. Midfielders are often judged on how quickly they process space, pressure and passing options, with scanning before possession now widely tracked in player analysis.

In comments released with the announcement, Lavia said the company's approach reflects a part of football he has long valued.

"The game is getting quicker every season and the players who stay ahead are the ones making decisions before they receive the ball. That's something I've always worked on, and it's why I believe so strongly in what Be Your Best is doing.

"Be Your Best gives players the opportunity to train their awareness and decision-making whenever they want, without putting extra strain on their bodies.

"I believe it can make a real difference for players at every level," said Roméo Lavia, Chelsea midfielder and investor in Be Your Best.

The business is focused on a specific area of player development. Rather than trying to replicate full technical training, it targets what it calls game intelligence: the ability to recognise patterns, assess options and act more quickly under pressure.

Player demand

That proposition appears to have gained traction among high-level players. Be Your Best said the platform has been used by footballers including Marc Guéhi, Endrick, Dejan Kulusevski, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, suggesting interest across leagues and national markets.

The wider football industry has spent heavily in recent years on data, video analysis and performance software, but cognitive training through virtual reality remains a more specialised segment. Its appeal lies partly in repeatability: players can be exposed to the same tactical pictures many times without needing a full training group.

For clubs, that may be most useful when training time is limited. Congested fixture calendars, travel and rehabilitation periods often restrict opportunities for tactical work on grass. Tools that let players rehearse visual cues and decisions in controlled settings have therefore drawn growing attention.

Chief Executive Officer Andreas Olsen said this is where Be Your Best is trying to establish itself. He linked Lavia's investment to a broader case for mental preparation as a core part of football development.

"Roméo is a phenomenal midfielder and someone whose game is built around awareness, scanning and intelligent decision-making. Those are exactly the qualities we're helping players develop through Be Your Best.

"The difference between a good player and a great player isn't lack of talent but lack of game intelligence. At Be Your Best, we've seen first-hand how young athletes' awareness of the pitch and increased scanning can transform their abilities and elevate their game.

"Studies have shown players who scan at a high rate are 2x more likely to make a successful forward pass, and players in the Premier League and other top divisions scan more than those at lower levels. The great news is scanning is a skill that can be taught at any age.

"Be Your Best Training cultivates a safe and engaging environment for players to improve critical mental skills and, because of the platform's cognitive rather than physical nature, it is also a valuable resource during injury rehabilitation.

"As players return for pre-season, it's important they train their minds as well as their bodies. Elite football is often decided by marginal gains, and we're seeing more players turn to virtual reality and cognitive training to sharpen their decision-making and gain a competitive edge.

"Our goal is to help players improve their game at every level while reducing the physical load that comes with traditional training.

"To have Roméo invest in the company is a huge vote of confidence in our technology.

"We believe cognitive training will become a fundamental part of player development, and we're excited to have him on board," said Olsen.

Growing niche

Virtual reality has been explored across several sports, from quarterback reading drills in American football to race simulation in motorsport, but football presents a distinct challenge because of the speed and fluidity of 22-player movement. Companies in the area have tried to address that by simplifying scenarios into repeatable decision points that mimic moments players encounter in competitive matches.

Be Your Best argues that these moments can be isolated and improved in the same way coaches break down pressing triggers, passing lanes or body orientation in classroom sessions and video review. The difference is that players react from a first-person view rather than watch from the outside.

Lavia's backing also adds athlete credibility at a time when sports technology businesses increasingly seek investors with direct experience of elite competition. For younger football companies, endorsements from active players can help validate products in a market where adoption often depends on trust from coaches, performance staff and academies.

The company did not disclose the financial terms of the investment. Its system is used around the world by both professional clubs and individual players looking to improve scanning, awareness and decision-making.