After lengthy negotiations, young German attacker Kai Havertz has joined Chelsea from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea is believed to have paid Leverkusen around £90 million to acquire the 21-year-old’s services. Havertz joins on a five-year contract.
Read: Signing Kai Havertz could turn Chelsea into title contenders.
On signing with Chelsea Havertz said: “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 and I can’t wait to meet all the players and the trainers.”
What Havertz brings to Chelsea
Attacking versatility. For Leverkusen and the German National Team, Havertz has played centrally, as a 10, out wide and also upfront. So far in his career, the closer to goal he is, the better he performs.
Premier League Central’s Marvellous Adepoju analysed Havertz’s roles and how the newest Blue could fit in Chelsea’s line up. All possible outcomes see him in an attacking role, where he can do his best work.
Being 6’2”, German attacking midfielder, obvious comparisons have been drawn to former Chelsea player Michael Ballack.
However, it is unrealistic to expect Havertz will just be Ballack Mk.II. Ballack had a bit more physicality to his game, with more ability to drop back and defend. Havertz is much more specialised upfront.
Havertz has the potential to be one of the best footballers in the Premier League, if not the world. Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia believes he already is: “Kai is one of the best players of his age in world football, so we are very happy that his future lies at Chelsea.
“We are delighted to be able to add his versatility and quality to the squad before the season begins.”
Havertz is already preparing for the new season in London, having been given permission to leave the German national team camp early.