STUTTGART, Germany (AP) – Bayer Leverkusen striker Kai Havertz left the German national team’s education field on Friday to complete his move to Chelsea.
Leverkusen sports director Rudi Voeller said Havertz travels to London “so Kai can now fix things on the London court with our support.”
German coach Joachim Lew expected Havertz to make a signal for Chelsea soon.
“We knew that now, or tomorrow, the main points had to be resolved in his contract with Chelsea,” Lew said in a video on the German football federation website, adding that Havertz “really needs to take this step.”
Havertz, an unused replacement when Germany played a 1–1 draw against Spain on Thursday in the League of Nations, said he was aware of risking the play if Havertz played and was injured.
Havertz’s signing would likely complete a Chelsea overhaul that also saw forward Timo Werner, winger Hakim Ziyech, central defender Thiago Silva and left-back Ben Chilwell sign for the English club.
“We are aware of the importance of this for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Kai and we need a responsible technique,” said the general manager of the German team, Oliver Bierhoff. “It is both an honor and a difference for German football when the young German players are on duty at foreign clubs.
Havertz last played for Leverkusen in the Europa League quarter-finals on 10 August, where he scored a 2–1 loss to Inter Milan.Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz said he did not expect Havertz to be available for the new season.
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