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 along 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 so much about my future and wished to take the following step in my profession. Chelsea is the very best place for me to try this so I’m very blissful.”
Regardless of being simply 19, Hato already boasts vital expertise at senior stage, 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 enjoying each at centre-back and left-back, his versatility and composure have made him one in all Europe’s most sought-after defensive prospects.
Hato had beforehand attracted curiosity from a number of of Europe’s high golf equipment, together with Arsenal, however Chelsea have now received the race for his signature.
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes admitted it was troublesome to see the younger defender depart however expressed satisfaction in his improvement:
“With the switch of Jorrel, we lose one in all our pillars in protection,” Kroes mentioned.
“He isn’t solely a really nice expertise and a very good participant, however he additionally has an excellent character and character. We’d have most well-liked to maintain him for at the least one other yr, however we perceive that he has now set his sights on this excellent journey that awaits him within the Premier League.
“We wholeheartedly want him this new problem and are happy with what he has finished 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 gifted 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.
