11 fun facts about Kai Havertz

Kai Lukas Havertz is a professional footballer from Germany. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Arsenal in the Premier League and the Germany national team. He emerged from Bayer Leverkusen’s youth academy in 2016 and quickly made his senior debut with the club.

Havertz holds the record for being the youngest debutant in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen and also became their youngest goalscorer the following year. Notably, he is the youngest player to reach 50 and 100 league appearances in the German top flight.

Havertz’s impressive performances attracted interest from various European clubs, leading to his transfer to Chelsea in 2020 for a fee of €84 million (£72 million), making him the second-most expensive signing for Chelsea at the time.

During his time at Chelsea, Havertz achieved success by winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup in 2021, scoring crucial goals in the finals of both the Champions League and Club World Cup. In June 2023, he made a move to Arsenal in London.

Havertz has represented Germany at different youth levels before making his senior international debut in September 2018, becoming the first player born in 1999 to play for the national team. He also featured for Germany in UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Below are 10 fun facts about him.

1. His Grandfather Fostered His Talent

Kai Havertz, born on June 11, 1999 in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, comes from a family with diverse professional backgrounds. While his father serves as a policeman, his mother is a lawyer. Havertz attributes a significant portion of his success in football to his grandfather.

Although his father may not possess exceptional football skills, his grandfather played a crucial role in shaping Havertz’s abilities by engaging in playful matches with him during their time in the family garden. These interactions allowed Havertz to enhance his ball control and shooting techniques.

2. Had an early career

Havertz began his football journey at a tender age, playing for amateur club Alemannia Mariadorf at just four years old. With his grandfather, Richard, as the team’s chairman, the young German forward gained valuable experience that would prove beneficial in his future career.

3. Joined Bayer Leverkusen at Age 11

Bayer Leverkusen discovered his potential and recruited him. Havertz was only 11 years old then. His professional journey commenced when, at 15, he was elevated to Leverkusen’s Under-17 team. He played a crucial role in ending the team’s 25-year championship drought by securing a national youth championship.

4. Supported Alemannia Aachen as a child

Kai’s childhood support was to his hometown team, Alemannia Aachen, which participated in the Bundesliga during the 2006/07 season. Recognized as the “potato beetles” for their distinctive yellow and black uniform, the team’s stay in the top division was short-lived. Nevertheless, Kai and his family remained loyal supporters, and he eventually became a part of their academy in 2009.

5. Had a lot of role models

Kai admired players like Ronaldinho, Andreas Iniesta, Zinedine Zidane, and Kaka while growing up. However, it was former Liverpool striker Erik Meijer who caught his attention the most. Meijer made 27 appearances for the Reds between 1999 and 2000, scoring only twice. Kai fondly remembers watching Meijer play for Alemannia Aachen when he was a regular in the stands.

6. A dramatic debut

Kai was enjoying his breakfast at his family home in Mariadorf when he received an urgent phone call from manager Roger Schmidt. The call informed him that midfielder Lars Bender had sustained an injury and he was needed in Bremen immediately.

Without wasting any time, his mother swiftly transported him to Leverkusen, where a chauffeur was waiting to take him to the match against Werder Bremen. In a remarkable turn of events, Kai stepped onto the field in the 83rd minute, etching his name into the history books as Leverkusen’s youngest-ever player.

7. Complimentary moniker

In his time in the Bundesliga, Havertz earned the moniker “Alleskonner” from the German press, signifying his versatility and proficiency in various aspects of the game. This nickname was bestowed upon him due to his exceptional ball skills and tactical adaptability. It is the German equivalent of the British expression “a Jack of all trades,” emphasizing his capability to excel in multiple positions on the field.

8. Record holder

Kai quickly rose to the Bayer Leverkusen first team, setting multiple records in the process. Some of these records have been surpassed, notably by Florian Wirtz who became Leverkusen’s youngest player and goalscorer, as well as reaching 50 Bundesliga games at a younger age.

He still holds the record for being the youngest player to reach a century of appearances in the division, and his 17 goals during the 2018/19 season remain the most by a teenager in a German top-flight season. Interestingly, only Jaydon Sancho has scored more goals in the Bundesliga as a teenager than Havertz did before turning 20.

9. An animal lover

Kai has always had a deep love for animals. Growing up, he had a German shepherd, a cat, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a horse. Now living in London, he owns three dogs. Despite this, his true passion lies with donkeys. It all began when his parents gave him a stuffed donkey as a child. At 17, they sponsored three rescue donkeys for him, which he would visit regularly. Today, Kai is actively involved in rescuing donkeys, with his family assisting in caring for them at their sanctuary near his childhood home.

10. Two-Time Fritz Walter Medal Winner

Kai has been honored with two ‘Fritz Walter Medals,’ as they are commonly referred to. These medals are bestowed by the German Football Association to recognize the exceptional talent of two players in the country. Every year, two age groups are acknowledged with this prestigious award. In the under-17 and under-19 age groups, Havertz proudly claimed the silver and gold medals, respectively.

11. Gives to charity

Kai established his own charitable organization after consistently contributing to the community through charitable donations and acts of kindness. The primary objective of this charity is to provide assistance to individuals who face limitations in their daily lives due to disabilities or illnesses.

Additionally, it strives to rescue abandoned animals and provide them with a life of dignity. Furthermore, the organization aims to foster the therapeutic benefits of bringing people and animals together, while also supporting young athletes and promoting sports as a means of personal development.