Chelsea have agreed a £35.5m (€40m) deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, with the 19-year-old set to sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Personal terms have already been agreed, and the Netherlands international is expected to fly to London for a medical in the coming days. The initial fee could rise with significant add-ons.
Hato, who can play at left-back or centre-back, has made over 100 first-team appearances for Ajax and fits Chelsea’s strategy of signing promising young players on long-term deals. He was omitted from Ajax’s squad for their pre-season Como Cup fixture on Sunday in anticipation of the move.
In 2023, Hato became Ajax’s youngest-ever captain at 17 and made his senior international debut shortly after. He is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest prospects and was part of the Netherlands Under-21 side that reached the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia last month.
Hato will be Chelsea’s seventh summer signing, following Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão, Dário Essugo and Mamadou Sarr. The club are also in talks with RB Leipzig over a move for Xavi Simons, with the Netherlands forward valued at around €70m. The 22-year-old, who joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in January for €50m, has attracted interest from Bayern Munich but is believed to prefer a move to the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have sanctioned the departures of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke and Djordje Petrovic, while João Félix completed a £44m move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr on Tuesday.
