According to local media reports, Arsenal have agreed to sign Chelsea striker Kai Havertz for a transfer fee of up to £67.5 million (about $8.58 million).
Negotiations progressed quickly on Wednesday, with Chelsea Football Club saying the transfer fee was £62.5 million ($79.4 million), plus £5 million ($6.3 million) in performance-add-on contract terms.
Havertz's personal terms are set to be finalized and Havertz will be Mikel Arteta's first signing this summer, as Arsenal are seeking a transfer deal for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
Earlier news reported on Monday local time said that Kai Havertz had informed Chelsea Football Club that he would not renew his contract with Chelsea FC. Kai Havertz's current contract expires in 2025 and if Chelsea do not want the 24-year-old to leave the club free after his contract expires, they may need to consider selling for cash now, and the longer it drags on, the more the transfer fee may depreciate.
Chelsea's new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is looking to change his players up front this summer, and Pochettino is also willing to cash in on Kai Havertz's departure.
According to previous media reports, Arsenal said that in addition to Havertz being able to play the No. 10 or No. 8 position, Arteta also believes that Havertz is a 4-3-3 formation system in the center of the line position of any of the three attacking positions can be competent.
Kai Havertz scored the winning goal in the final of the 2021 UEFA Champions League, but Havertz struggled to maintain consistency, scoring 32 goals in all 139 appearances for Chelsea.
