Kai Havertz
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| Kai Havertz | |
| |
| Full Name | Kai Havertz |
| Date of Birth | 11 June 1999 |
| Place of Birth | Aachen, Germany |
| Position | Midfielder, Forward |
| Chelsea career | 2020 – 2023 |
| Debut | 14 September 2020 |
| Games (goals) | 139 (52) |
| Other clubs | Bayer Leverkusen Arsenal |
Kai Havertz is a German midfielder who joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2020. Having spent three years in The Blues, he joined Arsenal on a five-year contract.
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Before Chelsea
Havertz was widely regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents after breaking into Bayer Leverkusen’s first team at just 17. Known for his elegant technique, intelligent movement, and two-footed ability, he became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to reach 50 and then 100 appearances. His final season at Leverkusen saw him score 18 goals in all competitions, prompting Chelsea to invest heavily in the German international in the summer of 2020.
Chelsea career
2020–21 Season
Havertz endured a slow start in England, hampered by adaptation issues and a bout of COVID-19. However, under Thomas Tuchel he began to find a role as a false nine or hybrid forward. His standout moment came in the Champions League Final, where he scored the only goal of the match against Manchester City, sealing Chelsea’s second European crown. The goal instantly etched his name into club history.
2021–22 Season
Havertz was used frequently as a centre forward or roaming attacker. He scored the winning penalty in the Club World Cup final and also netted in the Super Cup shootout win over Villarreal. His link-up play and positional intelligence improved, even as Chelsea’s league campaign was inconsistent. He ended the season as one of Chelsea’s top scorers in all competitions.
2022–23 Season
In a turbulent season marked by managerial changes and lack of attacking fluency, Havertz often played as a lone striker but struggled for consistency. While he led the team in goals across competitions, Chelsea's form slumped, and the team finished in the bottom half of the Premier League. He left the club in summer 2023 to join Arsenal, closing a chapter that was both frustrating and unforgettable in equal measure.
Statistics
- See also: List of Kai Havertz goals
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2020-21 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 9 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 14 |
| 2022-23 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 9 |
| Total | 91 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 139 | 32 |
International
Kai Havertz made his senior debut for Germany in 2018 and quickly became a regular in the squad. He played in UEFA Euro 2020, scoring against Portugal, and featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, netting twice in the group-stage match against Costa Rica. Despite Germany's early exits in both tournaments, Havertz has remained a key attacking player, valued for his versatility, intelligence, and technical skill.
Honours
- UEFA Champions League: 2020-21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
