Chelsea Snap Up Ajax Wonderkid Jorrel Hato in £37m Move: One for the Present and the Future
Chelsea just can’t resist a teenage prodigy, can they?
The Blues have agreed a £37 million deal with Ajax to sign Jorrel Hato, one of the Netherlands’ most exciting young defenders. The move is still pending approval from Ajax’s supervisory board, but it’s all heading in one direction, west London.
At just 19, Hato already has 75 senior appearances under his belt for Ajax and made his international debut for the Netherlands in 2023. Oh, and he made his Eredivisie debut at 16 years and 335 days. No big deal, just the third-youngest Ajax player to ever do it.
Long-Term Plans, Long-Term Contract
The blues are reportedly handing Hato a seven-year deal until 2032, and you just know that fits right into their youth-first, contracts-for-life transfer strategy. He’s versatile too, equally comfortable at left-back or centre-back, and is expected to add immediate competition to Enzo Maresca’s backline.
Medical? Green-lit. Plane to London? Probably already boarding. Vision? Clear, he’s not just a squad filler; Chelsea see him as a serious piece of their defensive puzzle.
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Why Ajax Let Him Go
Ajax, after two straight years out of the Champions League money club, are feeling the financial squeeze. Selling Hato isn’t ideal for them, but Champions League football is back at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and the cash injection from Chelsea could help reset their books.
What’s Next for Chelsea?
The Hato deal might be one of the final pieces in the Blues’ summer jigsaw, but the window’s still ajar. The club are looking for one more attacker, with Xavi Simons (of RB Leipzig fame) on their radar. Talks have happened with his camp, but no official bid just yet.
Meanwhile, the clear-out continues. Christopher Nkunku looks set to leave, and there’s even an openness to selling Nicolas Jackson if the right offer lands. Also, there’s an entire side of players currently training away from the first team including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja, and Lesley Ugochukwu.
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That’s basically a mini-league squad right there.
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