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 together with his new team-mates later this week.
“I’m very excited, I’m so blissful to be right here,” Hato instructed Chelsea’s official web site.
“I assumed lots about my future and needed to take the subsequent step in my profession. Chelsea is the most effective place for me to do this so I’m very blissful.”
Regardless of being simply 19, Hato already boasts vital expertise at senior degree, with greater than 100 appearances for Ajax and 6 caps for the Netherlands.
In 2023, he grew to become the youngest participant within the membership’s historical past to captain the Amsterdam facet at simply 17.
Able to taking part in each at centre-back and left-back, his versatility and composure have made him certainly one of 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 pleasure in his growth:
“With the switch of Jorrel, we lose certainly one of our pillars in protection,” Kroes stated.
“He isn’t solely a really nice expertise and a great participant, however he additionally has an excellent character and persona. We might have most popular to maintain him for not less than one other yr, 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 happy with what he has carried out for Ajax and need 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 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.
