New Arsenal signing becomes club’s highest-paid player

Arsenal not only completed the £65m signing of Kai Havertz to kickstart their summer transfer window, but they’ve also reportedly made the German the highest-paid player at the club.

The addition of Havertz initially raised many eyebrows considering his struggles in the Premier League at Chelsea, although plenty of supporters have come around to the idea of the 24-year-old donning red and white.

Havertz was announced as a Gooner last week, with Mikel Arteta hinting that the German will line up in midfield next season. Some have speculated whether he could replace Granit Xhaka in the left-sided #8 role as opposed to lining up as a false nine or centre forward.

This is a player Arteta surely craves given the finances involved. Not only did Arsenal make Havertz their second most expensive signing ever (pre-Declan Rice), but they’ve also made the German the highest-paid player at the club since Mesut Ozil.

Kai Havertz becomes Arsenal’s highest-paid player

The Gunners have drifted away from handing out massive contracts to ageing stars and have instead rewarded the protagonists of Arteta’s project with bumper new deals. Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka have all extended their contracts this year and have each seen their salaries increase exponentially. William Saliba is set to follow suit this summer.

However, Havertz’s reported salary of a whopping £330,000-a-week blows the rest of the Arsenal squad out of the water. Gabriel Jesus signed a deal worth £265,000-a-week last summer which thrust him to the top of the salary table, but the Brazilian’s deal has been usurped by his new German teammate.

Havertz’s lucrative deal makes him the highest-paid Gooner since Ozil extended his contract back in 2018. Arsenal tied down the former Real Madrid playmaker to a deal worth £350,000-a-week – a decision that would haunt the club in the years that followed.

However, there’s certainly less risk in offering mammoth deals to younger players who are key pieces within the club’s framework. It’s what Arsenal have to do to compete with the likes of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.