The German star joins Arsenal on a £65m deal ahead of the next season.
Kai Havertz reportedly becomes Arsenal’s highest earner after his summer move from Chelsea. The Gunners signed the German forward on a five-year contract worth a staggering £65 million.
Havertz, who previously spent three years at Stamford Bridge after his £71 million move from Bayer Leverkusen, had a mixed spell at Chelsea, scoring only 19 goals in 91 Premier League appearances. However, he made a significant impact by scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.
Arsenal’s acquisition of Havertz is part of their efforts to strengthen the team following their qualification for the Champions League for the first time in six years.
The club has also agreed to a £105 million deal with West Ham for the signing of Declan Rice and is close to finalizing a £40 million transfer for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.
These signings indicate that Arsenal are willing to invest not only in transfer fees but also in wages after a period of cost-cutting.
According to German newspaper Bild, Arsenal is ready to pay salaries befitting top-tier players, with Havertz being the first to benefit. It is reported that he will earn a staggering £330,000 per week, with the possibility of additional bonuses.
This salary makes Havertz the highest earner at Arsenal since Mesut Ozil. Previously, Thomas Partey held that position with a weekly wage of just under £200,000. However, new contracts for players like Bukayo Saka have brought their wages in line with Partey’s.
In addition to Havertz, it is rumoured that Declan Rice has been offered a similar salary. Arsenal’s massive summer investment demonstrates their ambition to continue pushing for the Premier League title after a frustrating 2022-23 campaign.