Chelsea have confirmed Kai Havertz has joined the club on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old left the German national team’s camp to have a medical in London on Friday and Express Sport understands he has signed a huge contract worth up to £310,000 a week to move to Stamford Bridge.
It is understood the deal to bring exciting attacker Havertz to Chelsea will cost around £71million including add-ons, which is just shy of the club-record fee paid for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga two years ago.
It was initially thought his arrival would cost up to £90m but the Londoners managed to negotiate a lower deal for the player through director Marina Granovskaia.
Havertz still takes Chelsea’s overall outlay to over £200m – the most owner Roman Abramovich has ever spent in a single window.
He is the sixth player to join Frank Lampard’s side this summer after Hakim Ziyech, international team-mate Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva.
The attacking midfielder arrives having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most eye-catching attacking talents.
The Germany international, who has earned seven caps, produced 12 goals and six assists in his country’s top division last term, having mustered 17 goals and four assists the year before that.
Havertz said after having his move confirmed: “I am very happy and proud to be here, For me it is a dream come true to play in a big club like Chelsea.
“I can’t wait to meet all the players and the trainers. Yeah, I am very happy to be here!”
Granovskaia added: “Kai is one of the best players of his age in world football, so we are very happy that his future lies at Chelsea.
“He has proven pedigree in one of the best leagues in Europe, he plays for the German national side and he is an exciting, dynamic talent.
“We are delighted to be able to add his versatility and quality to the squad before the season begins.”
Havertz could help make up a completely new-look Chelsea attack this season after the arrivals of striker Werner and playmaker Ziyech.
The Leverkusen academy graduate, who had been at the BayArena since 2010, can play across the front three having starred as a centre-forward and a No 10 last term, also playing well out on the right flank.
He was brilliant after football restarted amid the coronavirus pandemic, scoring eight goals in 11 games after the season came back with Leverkusen reaching the Europa League quarter-finals only to lose to Inter Milan.
As part of the deal, Chelsea are expected to loan Sarr out to Leverkusen for the upcoming campaign.
The France defender, 21, signed a long-term contract last month and Granovskaia confirmed when the deal was announced: “The opportunity to sign Malang was one we could not miss.
“He is a tremendous prospect and we will be monitoring him closely during his loan period, hoping he will soon be back at Chelsea. We are very happy to welcome him to the club today.”
Silva and Chilwell will meanwhile form a strengthened back-line at the Bridge and Lampard wants to sign a new goalkeeper to challenge Arrizabalaga between the sticks.
Rennes’ Edouard Mendy is his top target, per reports, with the Senegal shot-stopper available at around £18m.