28 June 2023 , 19:06
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Kai Havertz has said an emotional goodbye to Chelsea fans after his £65m move to Arsenal.
Germany forward Havertz has seen a video of him in an Arsenal shirt apparently for the announcement of his signing leaked online. That has led to Havertz taking to social media to apologise and then offer his thanks to Chelsea after three years at Stamford Bridge which included him scoring the winner in the Champions League final two years ago.
The move was officially confirmed 15 minutes after he posted his apology, which read: “Dear Chelsea, I would have preferred for you to hear my thoughts on leaving Chelsea first from myself before my thoughts on me joining my new team. This isn’t my style and it upsets me that you had to hear of it in this way.
“Today, I find myself at a crossroads, where words can’t describe the emotions I’m feeling. It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter, saying goodbye to the club that has become my second home, and to the incredible fans who have supported me throughout this amazing journey.
“Together, we have experienced the highs and lows, the joys and heartaches. Today I want to thank each and every Chelsea supporter, member of staff, coaches and my team mates for the last years.
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“Joining Chelsea 3 years ago was a big moment in my life and I’m looking back on these years with nothing but pride, gratefulness and loads of sporting success. From winning the Champions League in my first season to winning the Super Cup and the Club World Cup and now saying goodbye has been quite a journey that I will never forget.
“Every second of my time at Chelsea I identified with what it means to represent the club on and off the pitch and I hope that everyone remembers me for this. I’m looking back at memories that last a lifetime. The club will be forever in my heart and I made friends for life. It was an honour to be part of Chelsea history.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, hinted Havertz will largely feature in midfield for the Gunners despite regularly playing up front for Chelsea. "Kai is a player of top quality," Arteta said. "He has great versatility and is an intelligent player.
"He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play. We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon."
Sporting director Edu added: "We’re excited to bring Kai to the club and great work by everyone to get this deal complete. Kai is an exciting addition to our squad, who will bring great attacking quality and versatility.
"As an experienced 24-year-old, his signing represents another important step in strengthening our young core of talented players we have at Arsenal. We look forward to working with Kai."