Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal price €46.5 million.
The highly-rated Dutch worldwide has signed a long-term contract that runs till 2032 and can hyperlink up along with his new team-mates later this week.
“I’m very excited, I’m so happy to be here,” Hato informed Chelsea’s official web site.
“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.”
Despite being simply 19, Hato already boasts important expertise at senior stage, 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 facet at simply 17.
Capable of enjoying each at centre-back and left-back, his versatility and composure have made him one in all 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 gained the race for his signature.
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted it was tough to see the younger defender depart however expressed delight in his improvement:
“With the transfer of Jorrel, we lose one of our pillars in defense,” Kroes mentioned.
“He will not be solely a really nice expertise and an excellent participant, however he additionally has an excellent character and persona. We would 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 excellent journey that awaits him within 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 skilled contract at 16.
The transfer provides one other proficient younger participant to Chelsea’s squad forward of the 2025-26 Premier League season, which begins on August 17 with a house match in opposition to Crystal Palace.
