Must-Havertz - Did Chelsea Make an Irreversable Error in Selling King Kai to the Emirates?

Must-Havertz - Did Chelsea Make an Irreversible Error in Selling King Kai to the Emirates?

I still remember the day Chelsea officially announced Kai Havertz well. Signed on for around £75 million with add-ons, and coming off the back of 27 G/A campaigns with Bayer Leverkusen, there was understandably masses of hype around the elegant young German. The hashtag #hikai went viral that day.

However, three season later, #hikai became bye Kai, as the German, minus his storied winner in the Champions League final against Man City, failed to deliver on the huge promise that he had shown in Germany. The Blues still managed to get an excellent £65 million fee as the attacking midfielder joined city rivals Arsenal, but they would have much rather that the German repaid their investment on the pitch rather than with a move.

🇩🇪🔵 4 YEARS AGO TODAY: Chelsea completed the signing of Kai Havertz from Leverkusen.

He scored that winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final vs Man City! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/HXL1Pgsn8X

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 4, 2024

In total, Havertz scored 32 goals and notched 12 assists in 139 games, a poor return on an immensely costly player. However, since joining Arsenal, he has been a revelation when fit, a must-have, if you will.

39 goals in seven fewer appearances, a Premier League winners medal, a versatility that has proven enough to displace Viktor Gyokeres at the start of this season, and a knack for scoring against his former employers - did Chelsea give up on Havertz too early?

King Kai Strikes Again

Havertz’s excellent outside the box finish against Chelsea on Sunday marked the fourth time he has scored against his former side, and the first time he had done so in consecutive meetings.

Alongside Brighton, Chelsea are Havertz’s favourite opponents. Against Brighton, his motivation is currently unknown, but against Chelsea, he always seems to have a point to prove. It was the German who drove a stake through the heart of Chelsea League Cup final ambitions last season with a 97th minute winner in the second leg of the semi-final, and once again Havertz showed Chelsea where the bar is if they are to keep up with the reigning champions until the last kick of the season.

pic.twitter.com/nrJkXQkrug

— P (@perwilo) September 6, 2026

It makes sense - often criticized during his tenure at Stamford Bridge for not working hard enough, for missing clear chances and showing a general lack of interest with his languid body language, there were celebrations and compilations posted across social media when it was confirmed Havertz was heading to North London.

You could see what it meant to him to score against the Blues back in April 2024 during Arsenal’s infamous 5-0 romping at the Emirates - most would stay reserved and polite against the side that gave him a chance in England and won him a Champions League, but not Kai. The German celebrate with gusto, illustrating just how please he was to be rid of the West London outfit.

Late Bloomer

But should the Blues have ever gotten rid of him in the first place? Brought to the club at just 21 years old, it is hard for any player, let alone a young one, to be played out of position more often than not.

Throughout his first season, Havertz played in his natural role of CAM, but in the subsequent two, he was often put up front in the role of a false-nine as Chelsea searched for an elusive solution to their number nine problems.

Suffice to say, Havertz was not the solution - his deceptively lazy-looking body language indicated that he wasn’t putting 100% into the press, his ability to get a shot away was not as good as a conventional centre forwards, and his lack of both pace and meaningful strength meant that he was often bullied by defenders, and easy target in an aerial duel or 50/50.

At Arsenal, Havertz has actually played much the same role, but it appears his experience a Chelsea helped him to adapt to the role - while the experiment wasn’t working at Stamford Bridge at the time of his departure, Havertz’s change in fortunes since moving across the city indicates that, had they given the young German another season, he could have flourished in the exact same role they had been using him in. His second goal in as many Champions League finals a few months back would have certainly got some Blues fans squirming uncomfortably in their seats.

Naturally, with Joao Pedro in the form of his life at Stamford Bridge, this discussion is inconsequential, but it does at least beg the question whether Chelsea gave up on the Arsenal man too quickly.

Havertz has become integral to Mikel Arteta’s system, and has shown a serious goalscoring touch early on this campaign, netting three goals in four games. More notably though, he has displaced £60+ million man Viktor Gyokeres just one season after the Swede signed for the club.

Jamie Carragher speaking after Arsenal’s win over Chelsea: “To displace Havertz out of this team, it has to be one of the best players in the world.

“You’re talking an Ian Wright, Thierry Henry, 30 goals a season. Gyokeres is never taking Havertz’s place in this team, ever.” pic.twitter.com/YOAZ12ZgQc

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) September 7, 2026

In fact, Gyokeres’ first minutes of the season came yesterday, as the out-and-out centre forward took to the pitch in the final 12 minutes, and certainly let Chelsea know he was there.

However, it is easy to see why Arteta prefers Havertz, Along with his excellent goal, the German was full of running, constantly looking to make a run in behind for David Raya to pick out, and his delightful non-touch to set up Martin Odegaard for Arsenal’s second highlighted just how intelligent he is.

Now 27 and nearing his prime, Havertz could still have another level of his game to unlock, another pointer to the fact that Chelsea cashed in on the undoubtedly talented German. Naturally, football is a sport in which patience is often limited, but for it's brightest prospects, exceptions must sometimes be made.

Joe Cole slams Chelsea for selling Havertz:

🗣 "I think if you’ve got Kai Havertz at your club you’re watching him every day, week in, week out.

Coaches and managers come and go, but the Directors of Football? Look at the amount of money on centre-forwards the club has spent… pic.twitter.com/s88XA0LMbr

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) September 6, 2026

It didn’t work out at Chelsea for such a long time, but there is the chance that, had they held on to him, Havertz could have become a very useful tool on the blue side of London. In selling him though, they have simply made a city, and perhaps title rival stronger, and they have been punished because of it.