Kai Havertz, the scorer who costs 100 million euros and gave the Champions League to Chelsea

On September 4, 2019, Chelsea announced with great fanfare the arrival of Kai Havertz in exchange for 100 million euros. That figure - made up of a fixed amount and a sum of variables - made the young German the most expensive signing in the history of the English team. The investment paid off and this Saturday the 21-year-old multifunctional became the great hero of the day when he scored the goal that gave his team the consecration in the Champions League final against Manchester City.

Havertz' a product of the Bayer Leverkusen quarry, an entity he came to when he was only 11 years old and after all the support he had received from his grandfather Richard, the great promoter of his career. He went through all his stages in the lower ranks of the club until he made his professional debut in October 2016, at 17 years and 126 days, thus becoming the youngest footballer in history to make his presentation with the team's jersey in the Bundesliga.

Little by little, with goals and great performances, he was earning a place among the headlines. But not only that, he also became an expert in breaking records: to this day he is the youngest footballer to score in the Bundesliga and also the youngest to reach 50 games in that tournament.

Havertz's sports career was on the rise, but the footballer did not neglect his studies. In his early years as a professional he missed several games due to having to take exams. In 2016 he could not play the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 and a year later he was absent again from some games in the domestic tournament. "He's tiring and sometimes it is not easy from the mental," he said in those days about his multiple obligations.

His official debut for Germany's senior team came in September 2018, in a friendly match against Peru. Coach Joachim Löw sent him onto the pitch for 19 years, two months and 29 days, which was another milestone as he became the youngest player to debut for his country's senior team.

The flashes began to settle on that young German who did not stop breaking networks and who amazed with his versatility on offense. The press began to publish versions about his future: that Real Madrid wanted him, that his game was ideal for Barcelona... Finally, it was the proposal that came from Stamford Bridge that prevailed.

Chelsea paid 80 million euros for his pass. To that figure must be added another 20 million in variables by objectives. Havertz has managed to live up to the expectations that were placed on him and, except for a period in December 2020 in which he missed several games due to having contracted covid-19, he has been a bulwark in the team's offense.

This Saturday, 41 minutes into the first half, Havertz scored the diagonal, received an exquisite pass from Mason Mount, overcame the hurried departure of goalkeeper Ederson and defined to decree the 1-0 of those led by Thomas Tuchel against those of Pep Guardiola . It was the goal that allowed the Blues to win the final and take over the Champions League. It was the goal that allowed the young German to pay off that bet that the London cast made for him.