Chelsea Football Club has officially announced the signing of Dutch international defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax. The 19-year-old has signed a long-term contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge through to 2032.
Hato expressed his excitement about joining the Blues, stating, "I'm very excited, I'm so happy to be here. I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I'm very happy".
The young defender's arrival marks Chelsea's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, following Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro. The club will pay an initial fee of £35.5 million plus add-ons for the Netherlands international. This latest acquisition takes Chelsea's spending past £250 million for the summer. Some reports indicate the deal is worth £37 million, plus add-ons.
Hato is considered one of the best up-and-coming defenders in Europe. Despite his young age, he has already accumulated over 100 appearances for Ajax, captained the team, and earned a full international cap for the Netherlands. His versatility is a valuable asset, as he can play as both a center-back and a left-back. Chelsea intends to utilize him to provide competition for Marc Cucurella at left-back, an area where the team was considered light. He also provides another option for the center of defense.
Hato's move to Chelsea marks his first departure from his homeland, having spent seven years with Ajax and previously at Sparta Rotterdam's academy.
During the last season, Hato played 31 Eredivisie matches for Ajax, scoring twice and providing six assists. He also represented the Netherlands in five matches at the U21 European Championships this summer.
Chelsea's acquisition of Hato demonstrates their continued strategy of investing in young, developing players on incentivized contracts. Hato completed his medical and signed his seven-year contract. He is expected to join up with his new teammates this week and could make his first appearance for the Blues next week against either Bayer Leverkusen or AC Milan.
