Chelsea confirmed the signing of the 19 -year -old defender Jorrel Hato of Ajax in an agreement worth 37 million pounds sterling.
The highly classified Dutch international signed a long -term contract which takes place until 2032 and will be linked to his new teammates later this week.
“I am very excited, I am so happy to be here,” Hato told Chelsea.
“I thought a lot about my future and wanted to make the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me, so I’m very happy. ”
Although he is only 19 years old, Hato already has a significant experience at the senior level, with more than 100 appearances for Ajax and six caps for the Netherlands.
In 2023, he became the youngest player in club history for the captain of the Amsterdam team at only 17 years old.
Capable of playing both at the central back and back to the left, his versatility and his composure made him one of the most sought-after defensive perspectives in Europe.
Hato had previously aroused the interest of several of the best European clubs, including Arsenal, but Chelsea has now won the race for his signature.
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted that it was difficult to see the young defender but expressed his pride in his development:
“With the transfer of Jorrel, we lose one of our pillars in defense,” said Kroes.
“He is not only a very big talent and a good player, but he also has a very good character and a good personality. We would have preferred to keep him for at least another year, but we understand that he has now set his sights on this wonderful adventure which awaits him in the Premier League.
“We wish him all this new challenge and are proud of what he has done for Ajax and wish him any success in England.”
Hato joined the Ajax Academy of Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed its first professional contract at 16 years old.
This decision adds another talented young player to the Chelsea team before the Premier League 2025-26 season, which begins on August 17 with a home match against Crystal Palace.
