Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax, adding to their growing list of summer acquisitions.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Hato expressed his excitement about joining the club: “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.”
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted the club was reluctant to let Hato go but acknowledged his ambition to play in the Premier League. “With the transfer of Jorrel, we lose one of our pillars in defense.
He is not only a very great talent and a good player, but he also has a very good character and 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 that awaits him in the Premier League.
We wholeheartedly wish him this new challenge and are proud of what he has done for Ajax and wish him every success in England.”
Hato joined Ajax’s academy from Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first professional contract in 2022 at the age of 16.
He becomes Chelsea’s eighth signing of the summer following Joao Pedro (£60m), Jamie Gittens (£51.1m), Liam Delap (£30m), Estevao Willian (£29.1m), Dario Essugo (£18.5m), Mamadou Sarr (£12m), and Kendry Paez (£17.3m).
Chelsea’s summer spending has now surpassed £250m, with only Liverpool spending more at £295.5m.
