Chelsea have completed the signing of highly-rated Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal worth £37 million, securing the 19-year-old on a seven-year contract following a successful medical in London over the weekend.
Hato becomes the eighth signing of the summer for the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions and adds significant depth to Enzo Maresca’s defensive options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
“I’m very excited, I’m so happy to be here,” Hato told Chelsea’s media team. “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.”
A Rapid Rise at Ajax
Hato is a product of Ajax’s world-renowned academy and made his senior debut aged just 16 years and 335 days in 2023, becoming the third-youngest debutant in the club’s Eredivisie history after Clarence Seedorf and Ryan Gravenberch. He quickly rose through the ranks to captain the first team at 17, amassing 111 appearances across all competitions.
Capable of playing as a centre-back or left-back, Hato brings much-needed versatility to Chelsea’s back line. Last season, under coach Francesco Farioli, he spent 94% of his minutes at left-back in a 4-3-3 setup. The year prior, he played predominantly as a centre-back in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
International Pedigree
Hato made his senior debut for the Netherlands national team in 2023 against Gibraltar and already has six caps. Among players born after January 1, 2003, in Europe’s top six leagues, he has played the most minutes in all competitions since the start of the 2023/24 season (8,347 minutes)—more than Jude Bellingham (7,988) and Lamine Yamal (7,506).
Chelsea’s Defensive Strategy
Chelsea currently have seven centre-backs in their squad, but only Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile are naturally left-sided. With Badiashile’s previous campaign disrupted by injury and Ben Chilwell reportedly out of favour, Hato’s ability to play both centrally and out wide on the left could prove crucial.
With Champions League football returning to Stamford Bridge, Hato’s arrival provides both long-term promise and immediate cover across multiple defensive roles.
