Arsenal have completed their first signing of the transfer window, ahead of a busy summer
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to complete their first signing of the 2023 summer transfer window within the next few hours.
The Gunners are looking at bringing in four players early on in this window, with talks in recent days over deals for Declan Rice, Romeo Lavia, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, as Mikel Arteta looks to refresh his squad ahead of the new season.
Kai Havertz has moved from Chelsea to Arsenal (Image credit: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Havertz joins Arsenal for a reported £60 million, with £5m of add-ons, should he hit performance and team-related bonuses.
Formerly Chelsea's record signing, the German agreed terms with the Gunners this week ahead of a move across London, as the Blues go on a selling spree. Mauricio Pochettino would like the freedom to shape his squad this summer and needs outgoings before making new signings.
Havertz is Chelsea's biggest sale of the summer so far though – and their biggest since selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid for around £100m – as chairman Todd Boehly looks to trim a bloated squad.
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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is in full-on sell mode this summer (Image credit: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Havertz becomes the first German to play for Arsenal since Bernd Leno, now at Fulham. He leaves Chelsea as a cult hero, having scored the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
