Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal price £37 million.
The highly-rated Dutch worldwide has signed a long-term contract that runs till 2032 and can hyperlink up together with his new team-mates later this week.
“I’m very excited, I’m so completely satisfied to be right here,” Hato informed Chelsea’s official web site.
“I believed quite a bit about my future and needed to take the subsequent step in my profession. Chelsea is the most effective place for me to try this so I’m very completely satisfied.”
Regardless of being simply 19, Hato already boasts important expertise at senior degree, with greater than 100 appearances for Ajax and 6 caps for the Netherlands.
In 2023, he turned the youngest participant within the membership’s historical past to captain the Amsterdam aspect at simply 17.
Able to taking part in each at centre-back and left-back, his versatility and composure have made him one among Europe’s most sought-after defensive prospects.
Hato had beforehand attracted curiosity from a number of of Europe’s prime golf equipment, together with Arsenal, however Chelsea have now received the race for his signature.
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted it was tough to see the younger defender go away however expressed delight in his improvement:
“With the switch of Jorrel, we lose one among our pillars in protection,” Kroes stated.
“He’s not solely a really nice expertise and participant, however he additionally has an excellent character and persona. We might have most popular to maintain him for at the very least one other 12 months, however we perceive that he has now set his sights on this glorious journey that awaits him within the Premier League.
“We wholeheartedly want him this new problem and are pleased with what he has completed for Ajax and want him each success in England.”
Hato joined Ajax’s academy from Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first skilled contract at 16.
The transfer provides one other gifted younger participant to Chelsea’s squad forward of the 2025-26 Premier League season, which begins on August 17 with a house match towards Crystal Palace.
