U-Turn: Arsenal Rip Up Wage Structure for Highest-Earning Player
Introduction
Arsenal have decided to rip up their wage structure and make Kai Havertz their highest-earning player. The Germany international has become the club’s first new arrival of what is shaping up to be a very busy summer. The Gunners have also agreed a £105m deal with West Ham for midfielder Declan Rice and are closing in on a £40m swoop for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.
Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were all let go under Mikel Arteta’s watch, with a core of young, predominantly homegrown players getting paid far less. Thomas Partey had been the club’s highest earner on just under £200,000-a-week – sitting apart from the rest of the squad – though new deals for stars like Bukayo Saka had brought more players in line with that figure.
Kai Havertz’s Salary Increase
As Arsenal now look to make the leap and become regular title contenders, they are prepared 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 reportedly take home a salary of £330,000-a-week, though that figure could get even higher when bonuses are factored in – making him the club’s highest earner since Ozil.
Rice has been offered a virtually identical salary and Arsenal are prepared to create a new band of high earners for their top bracket of ever-increasing world-class players. Havertz was Chelsea’s top scorer last season – albeit only netting seven times in the Premier League – but Arteta wants to utilise him in his midfield three next season.
Timber and Lavia’s Salaries
Timber, who is on the verge of joining from Ajax, will not be offered as lucrative a deal as his fellow summer signings, while another target, Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, will also be on a more modest salary. While Arsenal have made it clear they are willing to spend big this summer, they are still conscious of their wage budget and will not be offering huge salaries to all of their targets.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s decision to rip up their wage structure and make Havertz their highest-earning player shows their ambition to become regular title contenders. The Gunners have also agreed a £105m deal with West Ham for midfielder Declan Rice and are closing in on a £40m swoop for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber. While both players will be offered lucrative salaries, Arsenal are still conscious of their wage budget and will not be offering huge salaries to all of their targets.