As Chelsea continue their bold summer rebuild under new boss Enzo Maresca, another exciting name has entered the conversation—Ajax’s teenage sensation Jorrel Hato.
The 19-year-old Dutch defender has been turning heads across Europe, and now it looks like Chelsea are moving fast to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Talks Underway Between Hato and Chelsea
According to Hato’s agent, Humphry Nijman, talks with the Blues are officially on the table.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Nijman kept things short and sweet, saying, “The only thing I can say is that Jorrel is now going to talk to Chelsea.”
That’s a clear signal that Chelsea are pushing ahead in what’s shaping up to be a competitive race for his signature.
Arsenal and Liverpool Also Keeping Tabs
Of course, Chelsea aren’t the only club interested.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been closely monitoring Hato’s development.
Liverpool’s interest comes partly in response to the departure of Jarrell Quansah, while Arsenal are looking to further strengthen an already impressive backline.
Still, Chelsea appear to be outpacing their rivals—at least for now.
Who Is Jorrel Hato?
For those unfamiliar, Jorrel Hato has already made quite a name for himself at Ajax.
Despite being just 19, he’s racked up over 100 senior appearances for the Dutch giants and is widely regarded as one of the best young talents to emerge from the Netherlands in recent years.
Comfortable both at left-back and in central defence, his versatility makes him an even more attractive option for top-tier clubs.
He also featured prominently for the Netherlands during this summer’s Euro Under-21 Championship, where they narrowly lost to England in the semi-finals.
Chelsea’s Summer Spending Spree Continues
If Chelsea do land Hato, it’ll add to an already busy transfer window.
They’ve secured the signings of Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Estevao.
And with the £52 million from Noni Madueke’s move to Arsenal and their Club World Cup windfall, they’ve got plenty of funds to play with.
Ajax are reportedly valuing Hato at around £60 million, which would make him yet another big-money signing for the Blues.
What About Liverpool and Arsenal?
Liverpool are also reportedly targeting Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, who will become a free agent next summer.
That move, if it goes through, could shift their focus away from Hato and open the door even wider for Chelsea to make their move.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are already deep in defensive options with Gabriel, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, and expected new signing Cristhian Mosquera, who is likely to arrive for £17 million.
A Potential Starter or Squad Depth?
Should Chelsea win the race, Hato could serve as much-needed cover for Marc Cucurella at left-back or compete for a starting spot in central defence.
With Maresca expected to demand tactical flexibility, a player like Hato—who’s already proven himself at a high level—could be a perfect fit.