In what marks a significant signing for Arsenal, the club has confirmed the recruitment of forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a deal reported by ESPN to be worth £67.5 million ($85.4m).
The international footballer from Germany has inked a long-term contract with the Gunners, marking their first acquisition of this transfer window.
"We've got on board a top-notch player. Kai's versatility and intelligence on the field will invigorate our midfield and diversify our game," shared an enthusiastic Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager.
Arteta warmly welcomed Havertz and his family to Arsenal, looking forward to commencing work with the new recruit in the upcoming pre-season training.
Havertz's tenure at Chelsea was marked by inconsistency despite his proven capabilities at Bayer Leverkusen, his former club, which he left for the Blues in 2020 in an initial £62 million ($78.4m) deal.
Despite his inconsistent form, Havertz's crowning glory at Chelsea remains his decisive goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, sealing the second European Cup for the club.
On joining the Gunners, Havertz expressed, "This club has such a big history, and I hope we can achieve lots of things. The mentality in the Arsenal squad is very high and you can feel that. The aim is to win trophies and I'm going to give everything to do that for the supporters and everyone at the club."
His debut in Arsenal colors is expected to be against Nottingham Forest on August 12. Havertz's move to the Gunners comes amidst a complete revamp at Chelsea led by owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, as they prepare for Mauricio Pochettino, the incoming head coach.
At 24, Havertz brings along significant experience from both his club and international football career, with 35 caps and 13 goals for Germany under his belt. A Bayer Leverkusen alumnus, he made 150 appearances and scored 46 goals during his stint there before moving to the Premier League with Chelsea. His record at Chelsea includes 139 appearances, 32 goals, and 15 assists in three seasons.
Sporting Director Edu commented on Havertz's addition, saying, "We're excited to bring Kai to the club. His signing represents another important step in strengthening our young core of talented players we have at Arsenal."
Havertz will be joining his new teammates for pre-season training in early July and will don the number 29 shirt for the Gunners. The official completion of the transfer is subject to regulatory processes.
