Chelsea have officially announced that they have acquired the Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a transaction valued at €43 million.
The 19-year-old has signed a seven-year deal with the Blues and has thus become one of the most expensive transfers in Ajax’s history, matching the amount that West Ham paid for Mohammed Kudus.
Hato played his first game for Ajax in February 2023 at the age of 16 and has since appeared in 111 senior matches, scoring four goals and making 10 assists.
He was made the youngest captain in the club’s history and is one of the youngest players to debut for the club.
A left-footed defender, Hato, who is calm and has leadership qualities, can play both as a left-back as well as a center-back.
He is likely to jostle with Marc Cucurella for the left-back position, while at the same time lending support with other central defenders such as Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Mamadou Sarr.
Chelsea, winners of the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, will take part in the Champions League again this season after a break since 2023.
Hato may make his first appearance on August 8th when the Blues play a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, before they start their Premier League journey against Crystal Palace on August 17th.
