Kai Lukas Havertz, the bona fide German talent moved to Chelsea in a 71 Million Pounds move to Chelsea in the 2020 summer transfer window.
The midfielder is known for his technical ability on the ball and the vision to pick a pass 30 yards out. The astronomical rise of the playmaker became evident post his move to Bayer Leverkusen, a period during which he bagged the prestigious Fritz Walter medal two times, an award given to the most promising German young talent. He is one of the next gen German talents including the likes of Timo Werner, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Julian Brandt and Serge Gnabry. London is his next destination and the central attacking midfielder has shown some glimpses of his game so far.
Here are 11 facts you probably didn’t know about Kai Havertz:
1. Footballing enriched Childhood
Kai Havertz was born on 11th June 1999 in Aachen, Germany, a World War II war front. Kai was only 4 years old when he started playing football in academy levels. His first move was supported by his parents and grandparents. His Father was an amateur footballer himself before the family’s financial conditions forced him to opt for a more regular profession of a Police officer. Kai and his Brother, Jan played football in the backyard of his house in Aachen near the border of the Netherlands and Belgium. He learned the tricks of the trade pretty early as his grandfather helped him with the basics of the German game.
In an interview with the German Bundesliga, he was quoted saying:
“My grandpa really got me into football,” Havertz told bundesliga.com. “He helped me take my first steps. Obviously, my brother and father also did their bit to get me out there playing at an early age. Everyone was football crazy, and we were just a football family. We loved football and everything revolved around it, so I grew up with it and that’s how this passion developed.”
2. His Grandfather is the Chairman of a Football Club!
Richard Havertz, Kai’s Grandfather was the Chairman of Allemania Mariadorf, an amateur club in the German youth setting.
His Grandpa helped him sign for the club and the kid went up the ranks really quickly, much to his Grandfather’s surprise. It is not so common to see your family take decisions of a football club in German as the majority of clubs have a Fan ownership. He was a part of a prolonged period of grass-roots development in Germany, which created a set of extremely talented and technically gifted prodigies of world football.
3. Meteoric Rise to Fame
Kai moved to a 2. Bundesliga club, Allemania Aachen where he spent one year learning the basic of the semi pro game. He left Allemania Aachen only a year into his signing not because he was not fit to play for them but because he was often told that he was too good to play for a 2. Bundesliga club.
He was soon observed by youth scouts of top tier German clubs, including FC Cologne and Borussia Moenchengladbach. Bayer Leverkusen came knocking and the top tier club signed the prodigy for their youth set up. He joined an ever-so impressive fleet of young Germans in Kurtekotten, one of the most renowned training centers for young footballing minds in Europe and also in the world. His game showed no signs of slowing down despite having problems relating to growth spurts by the time he was 13 or 14. By 15, he was fit and senior enough to start game for Bayer’s Under 17 side. He helped the U-17 side win the National Youth Championship.
4. Youngest Bundesliga Debutant
Kai Havertz was promoted to the Leverkusen senior team soon after plying his trades in the youth setup of the U-19 teams. On 15th October 2016, Havertz played his first Senior Flight Bundesliga game for Bayer Leverkusen, coming on as a half-time substitute for Charles Aranguiz to become Bundesliga’s youngest ever Debutant.
Later during the season, he became the youngest ever Bundesliga Goal-scorer for Bayer Leverkusen when he netted a late equalizer in an important Home game versus VFL Wolfsburg, scoring off his left foot to make it 3-3. By the end of his second professional season with Bayer, he became the youngest player to notch up 50 appearances for any club in German top division, breaking a record set by the then Red Bull Leipzig Striker Timo Werner who is now spearheading attack with Havertz at Chelsea.
He also became Bayer’s youngest ever spot kick taker when he scored in a 3-0 win, again over Wolfsburg. Then in the following season, he again broke Timo Werner’s record for being the youngest ever Player to have 100 appearances for a Bundesliga club, aged 20 years and 186 days. His time at Bay Arena reaped a plush 36 goals and 25 assists for the Die Werkself.
5. Nicknames – “Alleskonner” & Das Hafhaf
It is customary that midfielders start their careers upfront in attacking roles and then gradually with age shift and move across to deeper lying roles. Kai Havertz has played in a variety of midfield roles and is one of the very few players the German media calls as an “Alleskonner” – meaning a player who can do everything. Toni Kroos, Javi Martinez and Daniele de Rossi are very few of such midfielders. Kai has been named as one such player who adapts as per situations and fills up quick. He can head the ball well, cut off space, attack and knead a through ball with the ability to play in a variety of attacking midfield and some defensive jobs. He was given a nickname of “Das Hafhaf” during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.
6. Kai Havertz has missed football games due to School!
It was back in his early Bayer Leverkusen days when Kai Havertz was chosen to replace Hakan Calhanoglu in the starting eleven. He played the first leg against Atletico Madrid in an intense 2-4 home defeat. The second leg was one month later when Kai was expected to feature in the team sheet but could not play due to his school exams!
Ridiculous as it sounds, schools have been a constant issue for upcoming football stars who play for European Supergiant Clubs on the weekend but have to attend schools or practical examinations the following day. Another such example was Manchester United’s young sensation Marcus Rashford. Imagine missing a UEFA Champions League game due school!
7. Resemblance and Comparisons to Ballack and Kroos
Havertz’ time at Bayer Leverkusen and his eventual arrival to London with Chelsea rang bells for German Legend, Michael Ballack, who himself had a similar path to English football, albeit via Bayern Munich. His game-style bears resemblance to the ex-German number 13 with powerful shots from outside the box and the vision to split the defence. Kai Havertz has been compared to a Toni Kroos as well because of the German’s ability to play in a variety of positions across the heart of the midfield.
8. Favorite Animal – Donkey!
Kai Havertz loves donkeys. He has a herd of donkeys at his hometown at Aachen and is really fond of them. He has also been spotted walking his dogs out on a cold morning in the streets of London. His dog is his best buddy now that he is in London. The British Media have already seen the German walking his dog out in and around old London.
9. WAG – Sophia Weber [Girlfriend]
Kai Havertz is dating Sophia Weber since a long time now. The couple used to stay together during the midfielder’s time in Germany. Sophia is also rumored to have travelled to England to support her beau. She has been with Kai and supported him through the ups and downs of his career.
The two have a Saint Bernard dog (pictured above) dog to share company with. She has been featured in many of Kai’s Social Media Posts as they seem to be one of the perfect couples enjoying a delicate bond and some sort of privacy away from the paparazzi. The two were dressed as Harry Potter character on Halloween last year and were seen dancing at a night club in Koln, Germany.
10. Music and his Best Mate
Kai Havertz is big music lover and and also has his best friend, Julian Brandt who gives him company with it.
He is a very skillful Piano player and it has been rumored that the German has at times played on big occasions. Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz are the bests of friends and the duo formed a formidable partnership in the middle of the park. They were often seen hanging out and celebrating goals together. The two have also had almost the same start to lives with the German National first team and youth set ups.
11. Net Worth and Salary
Upon being identified as Chelsea’s and German Football’s next midfield Star, Kai Havertz has had his valuation jump multi-folds. His current market value is estimated to be around 90 Million Dollars. After arriving to Stamford Bridge in the latest transfer window, the German received a hefty pay rise with his estimated wages being in the range of around 140,000 Pounds a week. His net worth including his property and endorsements with Nike total to an estimated 2 Million Pounds.
Useful Resource – Chelslea Players’ Salary and NetWorth
The Midfielder owns a Mercedes G-Wagon and has been spotted arriving at Cobham a few times on the German wheels.
