Chelsea have significantly strengthened their defense, agreeing a £37 million deal for highly-touted Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.
The 19-year-old Dutchman is expected to sign a seven-year contract until 2032, pending a medical in west London.
Hato’s arrival, subject to Ajax’s supervisory board approval, brings a versatile talent capable of playing both left-back and central defense.
He made his senior debut for Ajax at just 16 in February 2023, becoming the club’s third-youngest player. Since then, he’s amassed 75 appearances for Ajax and earned his first senior cap for the Netherlands in 2023.
Ajax opted to sell Hato to raise funds after a two-year hiatus from Champions League revenues.
Hato marks Chelsea’s eighth summer signing, pushing their total spending past £250 million, balanced by over £150 million in player sales. Other notable additions include Jamie Gittens (£48m), Joao Pedro (£55m), and Liam Delap (£30m), among others.
While nearing the end of their transfer business, Chelsea is still seeking another attacker, with talks reportedly held for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.
The club is also looking to offload players, with Christopher Nkunku a likely departure and Nicolas Jackson potentially leaving for the right price.
Several unwanted players, including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, are training separately as the club streamlines its squad.
