Arsenal on Wednesday signed German attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a “long-term contract”.

Neither club disclosed a fee but British media said Arsenal were paying Chelsea 65 million pounds or 75 million euros.

He is Arsenal’s first signing of the summer but the British press reported the club had agreed a 105 million-pound fee for West Ham’s England midfielder Declan Rice.

Havertz joined Chelsea in 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen. He made 139 appearances in three seasons, scoring 32 times, including the only goal in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final victory over Manchester City.

Arsenal were runners up in the Premier League last season while Chelsea, rebuilding their squad, were 12th.

“The mentality in the Arsenal squad is very high and you can feel that. That was one of the reasons why it has been so hard to play against Arsenal recently,” Havertz told the Arsenal web site.

“The aim is to win trophies and I’m going to give everything to do that.”

He posted a farewell message to Chelsea on social media.

He said he was writing “with a heavy heart…saying goodbye to the club that has become my second home, and to the incredible fans who have supported me throughout this amazing journey.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “Kai is a player of top quality. He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.

Kai has chosen to wear the number 29 shirt for us, a number he’s had throughout his professional career, and we quizzed our new man on the significance behind his “lucky” number.

“I have had it now for many years,” he said.

“I chose it when I became professional in Germany, and since then, it’s always given me luck. When I became professional I took it because it has some history with my brother. We used to take it always when we played some video games together. I think it’s the perfect number!”

Declan Rice: Arsenal agree £105m deal to sign West Ham and England midfielder this summer

Arsenal’s third bid of £105m will make Declan Rice the most expensive British transfer ever; Man City ended interest after having £90m bid rejected by West Ham; Rice led Irons to Europa Conference League title last season

The transfer breaks down as an £100m initial fee plus £5m in performance related add-ons.

The structure of the payments are still being discussed between the two clubs, but Rice is now free to discuss personal terms and look at having his medical.

Arsenal have already had two club-record bids rejected by the Irons – a £90m bid comprising a £75m fee and £15m in add-ons and an opening offer thought to be worth £80m plus add-ons.

The offer smashes Arsenal’s transfer record – the £72m they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Rice’s amicable Hammers departure

Hammers chairman David Sullivan said a gentleman’s agreement meant Rice could leave despite having a year remaining on his contract, with the option to extend it by a further 12 months.

Rice joined West Ham’s academy from Chelsea as a teenager and has been ever-present since his breakthrough season in 2017-18. He took over the captaincy after Mark Noble’s retirement last year.

The 24-year-old played 50 games in all competitions last season as West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League, before winning the Europa Conference League in Prague.

Rice has played more than 200 games for West Ham and earned 41 caps for England since his international debut in 2019.

Neville: I would spend £50m-£60m on Rice

Speaking in March,Sky Sportspundit Gary Neville said Rice is only worth around £50m-£60m – around half of the current figure being discussed by West Ham and Arsenal.

“I love Declan Rice,” Neville said. “Obviously, Declan knows the position, but when I look at world-class holding midfielders, and players of that type, because he doesn’t score or assist enough goals, you’re putting him into that category of more of a destroyer.

“[Then], you’ve then got to be someone who I think is highly competent on the ball and linking play, and having that knowledge of the subtleties of getting on the ball from the back four.

“I personally feel, at this moment in time, that Declan needs to go and work under a different set-up, he needs to drive forward in his career, he needs to go and play at a different club.

“I think there’s a lot of growth, and a lot for Declan to do to get up to the levels of Casemiro, Rodri and players at the top of the game in those positions.

“But, for me, I wouldn’t be spending £110m or £120m… I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice, but I wouldn’t spend the figures being reported.”