Arsenal and Chelsea Agree on £65m Deal for German Forward Kai Havertz
Arsenal and Chelsea have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of German forward Kai Havertz, with the deal valued at approximately £65m. The agreement allows Havertz to enter into negotiations for personal terms and undergo a medical examination.
While the initial fee stands at £65m, the final transfer amount could potentially increase with add-ons. Havertz, who scored nine goals in 47 appearances for Chelsea last season, originally joined the club in 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen in a reported £71m deal.
Notably, Havertz played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s victory in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final, scoring the winning goal against Manchester City. As Arsenal aims to strengthen their team following their qualification for the Champions League, the acquisition of Havertz is seen as a significant move by manager Mikel Arteta.
In addition to pursuing Havertz, Arsenal is also interested in England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham. However, their recent bid of up to £90m for the 24-year-old was rejected on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is focused on streamlining their squad and has agreed to a £30m deal with Manchester City for Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, aged 29. Additionally, French international N’Golo Kante, aged 32, has decided to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad after his contract expires at the end of June.
Under Chelsea’s new ownership, the club aims to avoid allowing players to enter the final two years of their contracts. Although Havertz’s current contract runs until 2025, he has not yet agreed to an extension with the club.
