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He has been called “the next Michael Ballack” and told that he will be a future superstar.
And, after what felt like an endless transfer story, Kai Havertz has signed for Chelsea, becoming his second most expensive signing and seventh new signing of the summer.
Blues fans will hope he can help turn the team into title contenders, but why did the club agree to pay a fee in the region of £ 71 million, including add-ons, for this 21-year-old?
| Player | Share | Of | Position | Years |
| Kai havertz | £ 71 million | Bayer Leverkusen | Midfielder | twenty-one |
| Timo Werner | £ 47.5 million | RB Leipzig | Striker | 24 |
| Ben chilwell | £ 45 million | Leicester | Left side | 2. 3 |
| Hakim Ziyech | £ 33.3 million | Ajax | Exterior | 26 |
| Malang sarr | Free | nice | Defender | twenty-one |
| Thiago silva | Free | PSG | Defender | 35 |
| Xavier Mbuyamba | Free | Barcelona | Defender | 18 |
Who is this German child prodigy?
Born in 1999, Havertz has been described as the greatest talent of his generation hailing from Germany.
The attacking midfielder made waves at age 17, making his debut for Bayer Leverkusen during the 2016-17 season, and from the start it was obvious that he would one day become a superstar.
Havertz possesses the technical skills of a typical number 10, but he can’t be strictly categorized as one – his height (6ft 2in) and dynamic style make him a choice for various roles.
He has often played in the attacking midfield for Leverkusen, but also in the midfield, on the right wing and more recently as a forward. National coach Joachim Low also likes to put him to the test in a deeper role.
Some in Germany see him as the new Michael Ballack. The former Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder had similar attributes, not only pulling the strings with passing, but also making powerful runs into the box.
While Havertz may lack Ballack’s extraordinary physique, he can be a smart running back who suddenly emerges behind the baseline to score.
Havertz is a modern playmaker combining passing skills, vision, calm under pressure and a high level of athleticism. It does not attempt sneaky tricks and does nothing ineffective. He is a serious player in the mold of his new manager Frank Lampard.
Havertz doesn’t have the most colorful personality and, like many other German players of his generation, he lets his feet do the talking.
What is the Havertz backstory?
He grew up the son of a policeman and a lawyer in the small town of Mariadorf, becoming a fan and youth player for local club Alemannia Aachen.
When he was 10 years old, he caught the attention of Bayer Leverkusen scouts, who convinced him to move to the Bundesliga powerhouse.
Since the young Havertz still lived in Aachen, he had to travel from school to the youth academy in Leverkusen several times a week. Once he joined the U-17 team, he moved into the home of stadium announcer Klaus Schenkmann.
There is no background story from poverty to wealth.
“Kai is lucky that he comes from a sensible family. His mother and father are down to earth,” said Jurgen Gelsdorf, former director of the Leverkusen academy.
Havertz ended up taking his A level when he was a regular member of Leverkusen’s senior team, and once said, “I couldn’t go to school in the morning because we were training.”
He had to catch up on the teaching materials in the afternoons. “At some point, I couldn’t do it anymore. I had run out of energy. I wanted to give up.”
But coach Roger Schmidt convinced him to stay the course and it paid off.
While his teammates were on a trip to Lake Garda in Italy, Havertz made his Champions League debut against Tottenham at Wembley in front of 85,000 spectators.
How could he fit in at Chelsea?
Havertz could be used in various positions and in various systems.
But his most likely role is as the No. 10 first-choice in a 4-2-3-1, or the No. 8 advanced in a 4-3-3.
The Blues already have a set of wingers and, with the signing of Timo Werner, two highly talented forwards. You do not need to experiment with Havertz.
He moves effortlessly between the lines and can offer a unique presence in Chelsea’s midfield. The likes of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech will benefit from having this type of playmaker alongside them, while deep midfielders have a guy to turn to if they run into trouble.
Former teammates and coaches have praised Havertz for his mental toughness, considered his greatest asset in addition to his soccer talent.
It may take time to get used to the Premier League and his new club after spending 10 years in Leverkusen, but there is little that can prevent Havertz from becoming the lynchpin of Chelsea’s attack.
