From a small German village to the bright lights of the BayArena and the Champions League: we chart the Germany international's journey to stardom.

For Havertz, it all began in the village of Mariadorf, just north of Aachen. It's where the attacking midfielder both grew up and received early guidance in the sport.

"My grandpa really got me into football," Havertz told bundesliga.com. "He helped me take my first steps. Obviously, my brother and father also did their bit to get me out there playing at an early age. Everyone was football crazy, and we were just a football family. We loved football and everything revolved around it, so I grew up with it and that's how this passion developed."

Havertz joined his first club, Alemannia Mariadorf, aged just four. His grandfather Richard was the long-time chairman at the club, and some say he passed on his own gift for the game.

"People were always saying I had the potential to make a career of it," Havertz said. "But then it’s still 10, 12 years to work to get the chance to play in the Bundesliga or any other top league."

After spending most of his time with Mariadorf in age groups two years above his own, in 2009 - aged 10 - he joined Alemannia Aachen, the biggest club in the region. At that time, they were a Bundesliga 2 side, and Kai was a regular fan.

Watch: Havertz's attacking masterclass unlocked

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"The best time was when Erik Meijer was playing up front," Havertz explained. "Aachen had some fantastic players over the years, some of my own early heroes."

The youngster only lasted one year at Aachen, though. Not because he wasn't good enough; quite the opposite in fact. Scouts had been watching Havertz play for several years, but a performance against Leverkusen made one talent spotter want a second look.

"Kai was playing for Alemannia Aachen's under-12s - he was a year younger than everyone else and playing against our under-12s," said Slawomir Czarniecki, a youth coach at the BayArena. "I don't remember exactly how the game finished - 8-3 for us I think - but he scored their three goals. That was my first impression of Kai."

Kai Havertz led his Bayer Leverkusen U17 side past Borussia Dortmund in the German final. - imago

Havertz joined Leverkusen in summer 2010 and continued his progression through the ranks. Up to that point, the left-footed playmaker had overcome every obstacle in his path, but then his body made life hard.

"At 14 or 15, I was still one of the smallest players in the team," he explained. "Then I went through a pretty dramatic growth spurt. I had to get used to my legs being longer - it affects the whole way you play football. There was definitely a bit of a struggle, especially at U15/16 level. I wasn't starting as many games - spending more time on the bench."

However, Havertz soon came through those growing pains to help Leverkusen win the German U17 title in 2016. The teenager scored 18 goals in 26 games - including the opener in the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the final - to lead his team to glory. Nine months later, he would play for the first team against BVB at the Signal Iduna Park.

Watch: Havertz and best friend Julian Brandt - the Deadly Duo

That was one of 24 Bundesliga appearances Havertz made for Leverkusen in his debut season at senior level - as well as three in the UEFA Champions League - having become the club's youngest-ever debutant against Werder Bremen in October 2016. Four goals and six assists in the Bundesliga made a lasting impression on the league, and his teammates could see they were in the company of a rare talent.

"He's got great composure and technique, and his decision-making is usually spot on," said former Leverkusen striker Kevin Volland. "I've seen him come right through into the first team since I joined the club and his development has been incredible. He's quickly become very important to us."

While Havertz was making his first strides on the pitch, it was also a crucial time off it. The teenager was finishing secondary school around the time he broke into the Leverkusen first team, which led to some difficult challenges. Havertz explained one of those in particular when asked about the hardest moment of his career so far.

Tweet translation: 'A good finish is important - not just on the football field. Good luck Kai Havertz with your exams!'

"I had to do my secondary school exams at the same time as playing in the DFB Cup," Havertz explained. "I had an exam on Wednesday after an away game on the Tuesday evening that went to extra time and penalties. I got home relatively late and had to do an exam the next day. I don't want to talk about how it went!"

Havertz even missed a Champions League last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid to focus on his studies, with Leverkusen giving him three days off during the week in order to complete his A-levels.

Havertz missed only four league games in his second season in the German top flight, scoring three goals and making nine more in 2017/18. He then made himself known to anyone who hadn't already noticed his extraordinary talent in his third full campaign. At the age of just 19, the Germany international netted an eye-catching 17 league goals in 2018/19, starring in his team's late charge for a top-four finish.

In doing so, he became the youngest player to reach 30 Bundesliga goals - and the records continued to tumble in 2019/20. In December 2019 against Cologne, Havertz became the youngest player to make 100 Bundesliga appearances – at just 20 years, six months and four days old.

Watch: All of Havertz's goals and assists in 2019/20

He showcased his flexibility too, impressing in a more central attacking role in the second half of the campaign to end with 12 league goals and a DFB Cup runners-up medal. Along the way, in May 2020, Havertz fired Levekursen past Freiburg to become the first player in league history to reach 35 goals scored before turning 21.

Havertz turned 21 a month later, and did so as a true leader for Leverkusen - having already worn the captain's armband and taken further responsibility as a penalty taker. In the blink of an eye, he had gone from an exciting young prospect to one of the best players in Europe.

After switching to Chelsea in September 2020, Havertz was largely employed out of position as a centre forward. Nevertherless, alongside fellow ex-Bundesliga star Christian Pulisic, he conquered the Champions League - and had one of the most glorious moments of his career - scoring the winning goal as the Blues beat Manchester City in the final on 29 May 2021.

Havertz would score a post-Leverkusen best 14 goals the following season, but playing as a no.9 was clearly taking its toll, and in the summer of 2023 he moved from the west of London to the north, joining rivals Arsenal.

There, his all round game has been perfectly harnessed up front by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, and Havertz continues to turn doubters into believers.

One of the first names on the teamsheet for his club, the same can be said for Germany, too, with the 25-year-old starting every game up top at Euro 2024 and scoring twice in their run to the quarter-finals.

Havertz is now one of the first names on the team sheet for Arsenal and Germany. - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Now fully settled at club and country with coaches who have complete trust in him, the world is finally seeing the Havertz that Leverkusen fans fell in love with.

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