Arsenal have signed Germany forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said yesterday.
The transfer fee has not been disclosed but British media reported Arsenal will pay Chelsea £65 million ($82.63m) with an additional £5m in add-ons.
“It’s super exciting for me to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Arsenal family. This club has such a big history, and I hope we can achieve lots of things,” the 24-year-old told the club website.
Havertz joined Chelsea in September 2020 from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he had started his professional career.
“Kai is a player of top quality. He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play,” manager Mikel Arteta said.
Chelsea had paid up to £71m, including add-ons, for the German forward, according to media reports, making him Chelsea’s second-most expensive signing after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Havertz made nearly 140 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions scoring more than 30 goals, and helped them win the Champions League in 2020-21, as well as the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Club in 2021.
“The German now moves on but leaves with his name etched into Chelsea folklore. We are grateful to Kai for his efforts throughout his time at Stamford Bridge and wish him well,” Chelsea said in a statement.
Havertz has played almost 40 times for Germany after making his debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Peru in September 2018.
He was included in their squads for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, where he scored a brace in a 4-2 win over Costa Rica before Germany were knocked out in the group stage.
Arsenal have also submitted a third bid worth £105m for West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice.
Treble winners Manchester City, who had a £90m offer for the 24-year-old rejected yesterday, will not match the Gunners’ bid.
Arsenal have also had two bids previously rejected after their offers fell short of the £100m West Ham want.
However, it is understood the Hammers do not believe the structure of the latest bid is right.
Rice’s current contract at the London Stadium expires in 2024 but has the option for a one-year extension until the summer of 2025.
If Arsenal’s bid of an initial £100m plus £5m in add-ons is successful, the initial fee would equal the British record Manchester City paid for midfielder Jack Grealish.
Earlier this month, England midfielder Jude Bellingham signed for Real Madrid for an initial £88.5m, although that deal could reach £115m if add-ons are activated.
Following the club’s Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina earlier this month, chairman David Sullivan said he was “99 per cent” sure Rice would leave West Ham this summer.
Rice has scored 15 goals in 245 games for West Ham, having made his debut in the 2016-17 season after coming through the academy.
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