Kai Havertz has become the highest-earning player at Arsenal after they decided to rip up their wage structure, according to reports.
The German star completed a £65m move to the Emirates from Chelsea last week, becoming the club’s first new signing of what is shaping up to be a busy summer.
In addition to signinv Havertz, the Gunners have also agreed a £105m deal with West Ham for Declan Rice and are closing in on a £40m move for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.
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Arsenal re not only splashing the cash in terms of transfer fees, but the North London club have also increased their wage budget after years of cost-cutting.
Big earners like Mesut Ozil, Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were all allowed to leave under Mikel Arteta’s watch, with a core of young, mainly homegrown players getting paid far less.
Thomas Partey had been the club’s highest earner on under £200,000-per-week – sitting apart from the rest of the team – though new deals for Bukayo Saka had brought more players in line with that figure.
As Arsenal now look to make the leap and become title contenders, they are ready to once again dish out salaries befitting of elite players and German newspaper Bild claim Havertz is the first beneficiary.
The 24-year-old will take home a salary of £330,000-a-week, though that figure could be even higher when bonuses are factored in – making him the club’s highest earner since Ozil.
Rice has been offered an identical salary and Arsenal are ready to create a new band of high earners for their top bracket of ever-increasing world-class players.
Arteta believes Havertz can be key for the Gunners next season despite poor campaign for Chelsea, with the German to be pushed back into midfield.
Largely playing as a false nine, Havertz was Chelsea’s top scorer last campaign – albeit only netting seven times in the Premier League – but Arteta wants to utilise him in midfield next season.
