Kai Havertz: The Bayer Leverkusen years

With Arsenal's Kai Havertz set to be reunited with boyhood club Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, we take a look back over the Bundesliga career of the Germany international, who was once heralded by Rudi Völler as the best player in Die Werkself's history.

Havertz's Leverkusen story began all the way back in 2010, aged 11, when he was brought in from Alemannia Aachen's youth set-up. Having caught the attention of the Bundesliga giants in an U12s game against Leverkusen, the young forward was brought to the BayArena and set on his path to prominence.

Watch: Discover Havertz's roots

Before long, Havertz had risen through the ranks at the club's academy, memorably scoring 19 goals in 29 games to help his side claim the U17 title in 2015/2016 - a tally which helped earn him the presitigious Fritz Walter silver medal in the U17 age group.

Fresh from his biggest success at youth level, Havertz would manage to break into Die Werkself's senior squad the following campaign.

Havertz scored 19 goals in 29 U17 appearances as Leverkusen won the U17 title in 2015/16. - Mika Volkmann

His first professional outing came on 15 October 2016 away to Werder Bremen, when then coach Roger Schmidt introduced him in the 83rd minute to become Leverkusen's youngest-ever debutant at the time, aged 17 years, four months and four days.

Three further substitute appearances across multiple competitions followed before Havertz made his first start on 5 November, which incidentally also marked his first home game for Leverkusen. He seized his opportunity with both hands, registering a maiden goal involvement by assisting Charles Aránguiz for the winner in a 3-2 victory over Darmstadt.

Despite a strong start to life in the Bundesliga, the starlet would have to wait a few more months before scoring his first competitive goal for Leverkusen.

Watch: Havertz nets first goal in 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg

Havertz came off the bench to net a late equaliser in a 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg on 2 April 2017. In doing so, he surpassed Julian Brandt to become Leverkusen's youngest-ever goalscorer in the top flight (a record later eclipsed by Florian Wirtz).

By the time the curtain had fallen on his first season in senior football, the teenage Havertz had accrued a hugely impressive haul of four goals and seven assists in 24 appearances.

As is the case with all breakout campaigns, it was a season of learning for the young Kai, who struck up a formidable attacking midfield partnership with the aforementioned Brandt - which came to be dubbed 'Bravertz'.

The current Borussia Dortmund star frequently referred to his junior as a "younger brother", with Havertz also making it known that he had taken plenty of inspiration from his older 'sibling'.

Watch: Brandt & Havertz - the Deadly Duo

Speaking after Brandt had made the switch to Dortmund ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, Havertz divulged the nature of the duo's relationship. "He wasn't only my teammate but also a good friend," he said. "We're still very good friends, and of course we stay in contact.

"When he made his Bundesliga debut at 17, I was 14. His career has been an example for me to follow. I wanted to do things the way he did, and I've tried to watch what he does."

As it happened, it was during Brandt's final term in Leverkusen colours - the 2018/19 season - that Havertz began to garner serious admirers, not just from within Germany but across the continent too. Given his remarkable form in front of goal, the attention came as no surprise.

Having followed up his maiden senior campaign with three goals and nine assists across 30 appearances, Havertz netted 17 goals in 34 Bundesliga outings the following season to finish third in the scoring charts behind only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and Paco Alcácer of Dortmund, all while operating in either the false nine or number ten positions.

Watch: All of Havertz's goals in 2018/19

His success that year was unprecedented - no player under the age of 20 had ever scored as many goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.

Another goal-laden season would follow in what would prove to be his final campaign in Germany. Havertz found the net 12 times and provided six assists in 30 appearances, meaning he had registered double figures for goals in consecutive seasons from midfield.

Indeed, only Lewandowski (15) and Dortmund's Erling Haaland scored more goals than Havertz’s 10 during the second half of the 2019/20 season.

Havertz posted goalscoring numbers befitting of an out-and-out striker during his final two seasons at Leverkusen. - Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images

Not only that, Havertz also passed 100 Bundesliga games before his 21st birthday, becoming the youngest player ever to do so - a record which stands to this day.

Having broken numerous other records during his time in Germany, Havertz departed in summer 2020 to start a new career with Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Watch: Havertz's Bundesliga best bits

Nearly six years on, he will face his old club with Arsenal in the first leg of this Champions League showdown, before making his return to the BayArena for the first time since his departure on 17 March.

Whatever happens in that match, one of Leverkusen's favourite sons is guaranteed to receive the warmest of welcomes.

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