Kai Havertz body transformation. Getty Images
Kai Havertz, a 25-year-old professional soccer player, has undergone an impressive physique transformation after suffering an injury earlier this year.
Havertz has been out since February with a torn hamstring suffered during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai, but made his return in Sunday's Premier League game at home against Newcastle United.
Havertz's return this season was in doubt at first, but he impressed club staff with how quickly he's progressed in rehab. Fans also pointed out he looked noticeably more muscular during a midweek training session at Emirates Stadium.
"There's been a transformation in his body," said Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager. "The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn't had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it."
Back in April, Havertz shared a clip on social media highlighting parts of his rehab process. The video shows him performing a range of exercises, including agility drills, resistance band work, gravity treadmill runs, and weighted movements.
"To be fair, the staff and how they have explained the opportunity that is within with his physique to go to a different level and the things that he can improve and it can even help him mentally as well as being more effective as a player," Areta continued.
"He got on board with that, he worked hard, got on board with that, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years."
Havertz joined Arsenal in 2023 and has quickly become a key player for the club. Despite missing time through injury, he remains the team's top Premier League goalscorer this season, with nine goals to his name in 22 games.
"Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he's been incredible. I was talking to the medical staff the other day and they were talking about that," Areta said.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM.