Chelsea Move Closer to Signing Ajax Star Jorrel Hato

Chelsea are closer to signing Jorrel Hato. They have officially contacted Ajax to get the talented defender. Hato, a 19-year-old Dutch international, is keen to join the London club. Talks about personal terms are already happening.

CLUBS IN ADVANCED TALKS

Chelsea and Ajax are now in formal discussions about Hato, who is one of the most promising defenders in the Netherlands. His agent said the player is eager to move and is discussing personal terms with Chelsea. The two clubs have a good working relationship, which could help the negotiations progress smoothly. Hato can play as a center-back and left-back and has made 111 appearances for Ajax. He also has six caps for the Netherlands senior team. Top clubs in Europe, including Arsenal and Real Madrid, have shown interest in him earlier, but Chelsea are making the first decisive move in this transfer window.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR CHELSEA AND AJAX

After a tough 2024/25 season, Chelsea are looking to add depth and youth to their defense. They finished fourth in the Premier League last season, guaranteeing Champions League qualification, which reflects a relatively successful campaign compared to their past struggles. As part of their summer changes, they have allowed players like Noni Madueke to leave and are open to more departures to create room for new signings. Ajax, on the other hand, had a disappointing campaign in the Eredivisie, finishing 2nd, losing the lead and then the title to eventual champions PSV in the 2 last machdays. Losing Hato would be a significant setback for them, but the transfer fee could support their ongoing squad rebuilding.

LOOKING AHEAD: UPCOMING FIXTURES AND DEADLINE PRESSURE

If talks progress well, Chelsea hope to have Hato ready for their Premier League opener in two weeks against Crystal Palace, who finished 13th last season but were the surprise winners of the FA Cup, defeating Manchester City in the dinal. Chelsea are eager to close the gap to the top-3, and make a challenge for the Premier League title next season. For Ajax, the Eredivisie season starts soon with a match against newly-promoted Telstar, and they are determined to improve on last year’s finish. Negotiations with Chelsea are expected to continue for the next few days, with both clubs aiming to reach an agreement well before the September 1 transfer deadline.