Arsenal has completed the signing of Germany forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a five-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2028.
The transfer fee for the 24-year-old is reported to be £65m, although it could potentially increase with add-ons. Havertz previously spent three seasons at Chelsea, having joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £71m.
During his time at Chelsea, Havertz scored nine goals last season and notably scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.
His move to Arsenal comes as the club aims to strengthen its squad under manager Mikel Arteta, following their qualification for the Champions League after a six-year absence.
Havertz expressed his gratitude to Chelsea’s fans in a statement on his social media channels, stating that it was with a heavy heart that he was bidding them farewell. He thanked them for their support and acknowledged their collective achievement of winning the Champions League.
In an interview on the Arsenal website, Havertz expressed his excitement about joining the club and his desire to win trophies with his new team. He praised the high mentality within the Arsenal squad and recognized the challenge of playing against them.
Havertz emphasized his commitment to giving his all for the supporters and everyone at Arsenal, and he eagerly anticipated meeting his new teammates and staff during pre-season.
In addition to the signing of Havertz, Arsenal has reportedly made a third bid worth £105m for West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is looking to trim its squad and has recently sold midfielder Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek close to joining AC Milan. N’Golo Kante has agreed to a deal with a Saudi Arabian team, while Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have moved to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ahli. Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has also departed the club as a free agent.
The new ownership at Chelsea aims to avoid letting players enter the final two years of their contracts, and Havertz, whose contract was set to expire in 2025, did not agree to an extension with the club.
Source – myjoyonline.com
