On this day last year, Chelsea signed 21-year-old Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen for £71m with clauses on a five-year deal.
He officially joined ten days before the 2020/21 season kicked off against Brighton. Havertz played in the opening ten games of the season and showed his qualities very early on getting a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Barnsley. He got another goal in a league game against Southampton and getting two assists in that ten-match run then he sadly had a setback with a positive test which put his form on a slope for a while.
Havertz only actually missed three matches for us as an international break was in that absence but it wasn't an easy way back. The next fifteen to twenty matches he slowly got back to himself. In some matches he looked good some he looked very tired and his touch and qualities were hidden due to him not being fully recovered.
He started to pick up some good form near the back end of the season helping the club get top four but his finest moments came in Porto. No matter what he does with his career he will be remembered and loved for his goal against Man City in the Champions League final rounding Ederson.
Scott Clayton
Kai Havertz came in under Frank Lampard to potentially play a double number eight type of role with Mason Mount but his game time under Thomas Tuchel has seen him further up the field creating and scoring chances. I don't know what it is about him but when he glides past a player in a dribble, I smile. He finished last season with 45 appearances for the club scoring nine and assisting nine. He had an up and down twelve months but to get them numbers after getting unwell in the middle is a very good first season for me.
Havertz did join Chelsea when it was lockdown so being away from family and friends for so long when settling into London life and playing inside empty stadiums probably made it hard for any player making a move to a new country.
He's been here a year now and he's scored the Champions League-winning goal, won the super cup and looks his old self again these opening few games of the 2021/22 season. I have no doubt if he can stay injury-free he will get double digits in goals and assists this season. He currently has a goal and assist to his name in the first four games of this season.
I'm really excited to see how he can kick on this season when Romelu Lukaku can take the burden of scoring goals off his shoulders a little. The link-up and chances all our front line can have a rest at stages with the squad depth is going to be great.
Daniel Childs
The saga that lead to Kai’s signing last summer was one of the most unexpected and enthralling given the level of talent the club was buying to round off a quite remarkable window in all.
You just felt this was a monumental moment to acquire a player many feel is going to become one the best in the world, and he’s at my club. Everything about his first season will be centred around the Champions League winning goal. A goal that will go down in the club’s folklore and be replayed for generations to come.
Despite his struggles to adapt to a new league, COVID and injury, the platform that winning goal will give him is huge. The talent appears to only be getting more profound and clear with his impact for Chelsea. I genuinely think he has the capability to be the Premier League player of the season by May.
Along with an equally brilliant Mason Mount and the addition of Romelu Lukaku, Kai will be a major part of one of Europe’s most devastating attacks.
Jake Stokes
I remember seeing the Kai Havertz announcement and thinking, 'it's actually happened'. I couldn't believe that Chelsea, who weren't exactly world-beaters at the time, had done enough to prise the German to Stamford Bridge despite the host of European royalty that was queuing up for his signature. I had watched a lot of Bundesliga football that summer being the first league to remerge from Covid and came away thinking, 'yeah, he's the real deal'. An eye for goal. Incisive passer. A unique flair and grace about him on the ball. Deceptively quick and glides across the pitch. It was a real shame he wasn't able to hit the ground running for his various personal reasons, but I think it has been the making of him. He has the potential to become a similar figure to Eden Hazard. A player who you feel can win you the game at any given moment. The Champions League-winning goal shifted him from first gear into second and we're already starting to see Havertz shift into third. Havertz is a Lamborghini just cruising at the moment, and I'm looking forward to when he hits fifth gear.
Anita Abayomi
I want to take time out to thank all of the Kai Havertz doubters. The move to Chelsea for Kai Havertz hasn't entirely lived up to the high expectation set by the Blues fans, however it has exceeded the scrutiny from rival fans in recent times. Criticism towards the young german circled fan bases last season as they mocked the price tag of the bourgeoning talent - boy did he prove them wrong.
Despite obtaining his first senior career hat trick just two games into his first season of English football, his ability was continually questioned by fans and journalists. The main questions were if Chelsea actually needed him in the first place, if he could work well with Mason Mount, is he strong enough for the Premier League? The answer to all of those questions was deployed on the 29th May 2021 in Portugal. The UEFA Champions League Final. The only goal to bring Chelsea to Champions League victory came from the left boot of Kai Havertz.
One year after he signed for the club, Chelsea fans use this as an opportunity to thank the 22 year old for the short yet crucial memories to a difficult campaign. It may have taken longer than expected, but Kai Havertz looks set to fulfilling his prophecy of becoming one of the Chelsea greats.
What has been your favourite Kai Havertz moment at Chelsea? (not the Champions League Final) Follow our new Chelsea Fan Brand team Scott, Daniel, Jake and Anita on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
