The 19-year-old signs a seven-year deal and is Enzo Maresca’s eighth signing of the summer window
Chelsea have signed Netherlands international defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax on a seven-year deal.
The 19-year-old plays primarily at centre-back but will also provide cover for Marc Cucurella at left-back.
Hato made 31 league appearances last season, scoring twice and providing six assists, to help Ajax secure UEFA Champions League football with a second-place league finish.
He has been compared by some to Arsenal full-back and fellow Ajax academy graduate Jurrien Timber.
Indeed, Hato is the latest in a long line of former Ajax players to move to the Premier League, following in the footsteps of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Timber, Christian Eriksen, Ryan Gravenberch, Kanu, Rafael van der Vaart and Edwin van der Sar.
Former Ajax players who moved to Premier League
Hato told Chelsea’s official website: “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.”
He becomes Chelsea‘s eighth signing of the summer transfer window.
Hato’s career so far
Born on 7 March 2006 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Hato’s footballing journey started with local club Sparta Rotterdam before moving to Ajax in 2018.
He would swiftly climb the ranks of Ajax’s youth academy. Hato made his senior debut for Ajax in February 2023 at just 16 years and 335 days old, making him the third-youngest player to feature in an Eredivisie game for the club, after Clarence Seedorf and now-Liverpool star Gravenberch.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman then handed Hato his international debut aged 17. He has earned six caps for his country.
In 2024/25, Hato was primarily deployed as a left-back, with Ajax finishing as runners-up in the league and reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
According to Opta Analyst, of players from Europe’s top six leagues born after 1 January 2003, Hato has played the most minutes at club level in all competitions since the start of the 2023/24 season (8,347), ahead of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham (7,988) and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal (7,506).
When could Hato make his debut for Chelsea?
Chelsea host Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly on 8 August at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues begin their Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace on 17 August.