Havertz to Arsenal voted WORST deal of the transfer window by agents

Robin Bairner

14 Sept 2023 11:22 BST
3 min read

Kai Havertz, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Kai Havertz’s transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal is the worst deal of the summer transfer window, according to agents.

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Havertz joined the Gunners in a surprise move in a deal worth €75 million and has struggled to make a positive impression in his early weeks at the Emirates Stadium.

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The Germany international, meanwhile, is not the only player involved with Chelsea to have been involved in big-money deals that are of dubious value, according to The Athletic’s study, which came from what is described as a “cross-section of agent involved in some of the biggest transfers of the summer”.

Havertz may lead the way, but only one vote behind is Chelsea’s bank-breaking transfer for Moises Caicedo from Brighton, while Mason Mount’s switch from Stamford Bridge to Man Utd also grabbed three votes.

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Havertz, Caicedo or Mount: Who was the worst signing?

Worst deal of the summer

	To	From	Votes
Kai Havertz	Arsenal	Chelsea	6
Moises Caicedo	Chelsea	Brighton	5
Mason Mount	Man Utd	Chelsea	3

All three players have found the immediate adaption process to their new clubs difficult, which has doubtless had an impact on the voting.

Havertz has had the most obvious difficulty. The Arsenal attacker has yet to register a goal or an assist for his new club, while he endured a difficult international break with Germany, casting doubt over the wisdom of Mikel Arteta investing so much money on a player already low in confidence after a problematic spell with Chelsea.

The doubts over Caicedo’s move to the Blues, meanwhile, are generated by the huge transfer fee that the Stamford Bridge club were ultimately made to pay for him. After weeks of negotiations, they ultimately settled on a deal worth €116m.

The 21-year-old, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €73m, only has a top-level CV dating back 18 months and has never played with a major club. His early games suggest it may take him time to settle.

Mount to Man Utd, meanwhile, is generally seen as a puzzling move because Man Utd already had Bruno Fernandes in the England international’s role. On top of this, the fee of €64m seemed to be sizeable.