Transfer News: Chelsea Complete Signing of Kai Havertz From Bayer Leverkusen

Chelsea have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen, on a five-year deal.

The 21-year-old had been linked with a number of top European clubs but Chelsea led the race for his signature. Havertz was one of Frank Lampard’s top transfer targets this summer, but talks dragged on as the two sides negotiated the finer details.

Chelsea have now finally confirmed the arrival of the Germany international on a long-term deal to have paid an initial £72m, potentially rising to £90m with add-ons.

Havertz becomes Chelsea’s sixth senior addition of the summer window, following Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr in making the move to Stamford Bridge. 21-year-old Sarr is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the 2020/21 season.

Premier League 2020/21 – opening weekend fixtures

• C. Palace v Southampton – Sept 12
• Fulham v Arsenal – Sept 12
• Liverpool v Leeds – Sept 12
• Tottenham v Everton – Sept 12
• West Brom v Leicester City – Sept 12
• West Ham v Newcastle – Sept 12
• Brighton v Chelsea – Sept 14
• Sheff Utd v Wolves – Sept 14
• Burnley v Man Utd – Postponed
• Man City v Aston Villa – Postponed

Havertz made 150 appearances in total for the Bundesliga outfit, scoring 46 times and providing 31 assists. He also became the youngest player to reach 50 and 100 appearances in the German top flight.

The attacker is currently away on international duty with Germany, but he will join up with his new teammates immediately after as Lampard looks to step up preparations ahead of the first Premier League game of the 2020/21 season.

Havertz said, as quoted by the Chelsea website: “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. Yeah, I am very happy to be here!”

Next season’s Champions League group stage will get underway on October 20, at the same time as the Europa League’s group stage return.

The Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday August 29 as Premier League champions Liverpool play Arsenal.

The match will be immediately followed by an international break from September 2-10, with England facing Iceland and Denmark in the Nations League.