By Ibrahim Danladi

Arsenal has reached an agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of German forward Kai Havertz, in a deal worth approximately £65m.

Both clubs have reportedly agreed in principle, paving the way for Havertz to undergo a medical examination and enter negotiations over personal terms.

The transfer fee for Havertz, who scored nine goals in 47 appearances for Chelsea last season, includes potential add-ons that could increase the total amount.

Havertz, 24, joined Chelsea in 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of around £71m. Notably, he scored the winning goal in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City.

The move to Arsenal will see Havertz make the switch across London as Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, aims to bolster the team after securing qualification for the Champions League.

In addition to pursuing Havertz, Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing England midfielder Declan Rice, who currently serves as the captain of West Ham. However, Arsenal’s initial bid for Rice, valued at up to £90m, was rejected on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is actively seeking to reduce the size of its squad and has also agreed to a £30m deal with Manchester City for Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 29. Furthermore, French international N’Golo Kante, 32, has agreed to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June.

Under Chelsea’s new ownership, the club aims to prevent players from entering the final two years of their contracts. As Havertz’s current deal expires in 2025 and he has not yet agreed to an extension, Chelsea has opted to part ways with the talented forward.