Kai Havertz Becomes Premier League’s All-Time Top German Goalscorer

Kai Havertz has become the highest-scoring German player in Premier League history after his goal sealed Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The forward struck at the back post in the 16th minute, turning in Declan Rice’s cross from the right flank. It proved to be the only goal of the game, and it took Havertz to 46 Premier League goals, moving him above former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan.

Gündogan had held the record with 45 goals, scoring across two spells at the Etihad. Behind the pair, former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Özil and Brighton midfielder Pascal Groß sit joint third on 33, while Jürgen Klinsmann and Uwe Rösler follow on 29.

Havertz arrived in England from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, joining Chelsea for a fee in the region of £71million. He scored 19 league goals in three seasons at Stamford Bridge, as well as the winner in the 2021 Champions League final, before Mikel Arteta brought him across London in 2023.

His move to Arsenal was initially met with scepticism, with many questioning the £65million fee for a player who had never hit double figures for league goals in England. 

The 2023/24 campaign remains his most prolific in the Premier League. Havertz scored 13 league goals that season, and he was at his best during the title run-in as Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way to the final day. Leading the line as a central striker, he scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea, his former club, and headed in at Tottenham in a 3-2 win in the north London derby.

Injuries have since slowed his progress. A hamstring problem picked up in February 2025 kept him out for most of the remainder of that season, before a knee injury disrupted the early part of last campaign. Despite that, he played his part as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

Sunday’s strike ended a 14-year wait for an Arsenal league win at Anfield, gave Arteta his first victory there as a manager, and moved the Gunners three points clear at the top of the table.

The 27-year-old arrived on Mersyside after coming under scrutiny for enduring a seven-game goal drought, with Arsenal’s forwards struggling for end product in recent weeks. He started in midweek alongside Viktor Gyökeres in the shock Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town, but responded in the biggest game of the season so far.

The German will now look to extend the record. Havertz is under contract at the Emirates until 2028, and with Arsenal chasing titles on multiple fronts, he has the potential to extend the record.