Chelsea Football Club has officially secured the signing of highly-rated Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax. The 19-year-old joins the Blues on a long-term seven-year contract.
Official: Chelsea Sign Dutch Defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax
The West London club paid an initial fee of £35.5 million for the young talent, with potential add-ons included in the deal.
Jorrel Hato is officially a Blue. 🔵✍️ pic.twitter.com/j1d1o88yWu
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 3, 2025
Hato arrives as a significant addition to bolster manager Enzo Maresca’s defensive options. Primarily a left-back, he provides crucial cover and competition for Marc Cucurella, who carried a heavy workload last season.
Despite his youth, Hato brings considerable experience. He became a key starter for Ajax over the past two full seasons, making 111 senior appearances.
His achievements include becoming Ajax’s youngest-ever captain at just 17 during a Europa League match and winning the prestigious Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year award for the 2024/25 Eredivisie season.
He also boasts senior international experience with the Netherlands, making six appearances, and recently captained the Dutch U21 side at the European Championships.
Chelsea highlighted Hato’s versatile defensive abilities. While primarily seen as cover for Cucurella, he can also play centrally.
This left-footed option adds valuable balance to Chelsea’s centre-back group, currently featuring Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile as the main left-footed choices.
Hato expressed his confidence in the move: “I was really thinking about my future and this is what I wanted. I think I will be a good fit for the way Chelsea are playing,” he stated.
He acknowledged the difficulty of leaving Ajax after seven years but felt “this was the right time to make a big step, to come to the Premier League, to come to Chelsea.”
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted Hato’s departure was a significant loss, calling him “one of our pillars in defence” and praising his talent, character, and personality.
Kroes confirmed Ajax would have preferred to keep him longer but wished Hato success in England.
This signing represents another key piece in Chelsea’s summer rebuild as they aim to challenge rivals Arsenal and Liverpool in the upcoming 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
