He has been often known as “the next Michael Ballack” and tipped to be a future well-known individual.
And, after what felt like a infinite swap story, Kai Havertz has signed for Chelsea, turning into their second costliest signing and seventh new recruit of the summer season.
Blues followers will in all probability be hoping he might also assist flip the workforce into title contenders, nonetheless why have the membership agreed to pay a worth throughout the space of £71m – along with add-ons – for this 21-year-old?
| Participant | Value | From | Place | Age |
| Kai Havertz | £71m | Bayer Leverkusen | Midfielder | 21 |
| Timo Werner | £47.5m | RB Leipzig | Striker | 24 |
| Ben Chilwell | £45m | Leicester | Left-back | 23 |
| Hakim Ziyech | £33.3m | Ajax | Winger | 26 |
| Malang Sarr | Free | Good | Defender | 21 |
| Thiago Silva | Free | PSG | Defender | 35 |
| Xavier Mbuyamba | Free | Barcelona | Defender | 18 |
Who’s that this German wunderkind?
Born in 1999, Havertz has been described as the most important experience of his expertise coming out of Germany.
The attacking midfielder made waves on the age of 17, making his debut for Bayer Leverkusen by the 2016-17 season, and it was obvious from the start he would become a well-known individual sooner or later.
Havertz possesses the technical experience of a typical amount 10, nonetheless cannot be strictly categorised as one – his prime (6ft 2in) and dynamic mannequin make him an selection for various roles.
He has normally carried out in attacking midfield for Leverkusen, however moreover in central midfield, on the right wing, and further simply recently as a striker. Nationwide coach Joachim Low moreover likes to test him in a deeper operate.
Some in Germany see him because the model new Michael Ballack. The earlier Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder had comparable attributes, not solely pulling the strings with passes however moreover making extremely efficient runs into the sector.
Whereas Havertz may lack Ballack’s wonderful physicality, he will likely be an intelligent runner that the entire sudden emerges behind the backline to achieve.
Havertz is a recent playmaker who combines passing experience, imaginative and prescient, calmness beneath pressure, and a extreme stage of athleticism. He wouldn’t try sneaky strategies and wouldn’t do one thing inefficient. He is a no-nonsense participant throughout the mould of his new supervisor Frank Lampard.
Havertz wouldn’t have primarily probably the most vibrant character and, like many various German avid gamers of his expertise, lets his ft do the talking.
What’s Havertz’s backstory?
He grew up as a result of the son of a policeman and a lawyer throughout the small village of Mariadorf, turning right into a fan and youth participant of native membership Alemannia Aachen.
As a 10-year-old he caught the eye of Bayer Leverkusen scouts, who happy him to maneuver to the Bundesliga powerhouse.
As a result of the youthful Havertz was nonetheless residing in Aachen, he wanted to commute from college to Leverkusen’s youth academy quite a few events each week. As quickly as he joined the under-17 workforce, he moved into the house of stadium announcer Klaus Schenkmann.
There is not a rags-to-riches backstory.
“Kai is lucky that he comes from a level-headed family. His mother and father are every proper right down to earth,” talked about Jurgen Gelsdorf, the earlier head of Leverkusen’s academy.
Havertz ended up taking his A-levels when he was an on a regular basis member of Leverkusen’s senior workforce, as quickly as saying: “I couldn’t go to highschool throughout the morning on account of we now have been teaching.”
He wanted to make amends for the educating supplies throughout the afternoons. “In some unspecified time sooner or later, I couldn’t do it any additional. My vitality was gone. I wanted to give up.”
Nevertheless supervisor Roger Schmidt happy him to stay the course, and it paid off.
Whereas his classmates went for a go to to Italy’s Lake Garda, Havertz made his Champions League debut in the direction of Tottenham at Wembley in entrance of 85,000 spectators.
How might he slot in at Chelsea?
Havertz could be employed in quite a few positions, and diverse packages.
Nevertheless his nearly actually operate is as a result of the first-choice amount 10 in a 4-2-3-1, or the superior amount eight in a 4-3-3.
The Blues already have an ensemble of wingers and, with the signing of Timo Werner, two extraordinarily proficient strikers. There is not a should experiment with Havertz.
He strikes effortlessly between the strains and would possibly present a singular presence in Chelsea’s midfield. The likes of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech will revenue from having this type of playmaker correct subsequent to them, whereas the deep-lying midfielders have a go-to man in the event that they’re struggling.
Former team-mates and coaches have praised Havertz for his psychological vitality – seen as his largest asset beside his footballing experience.
He might have a while to get accustomed to the Premier League and his new membership after spending 10 years in Leverkusen, nonetheless there could also be little which may stop Havertz from turning into the linchpin of Chelsea’s assault.
