Monday, August 4, 2025 - Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Ajax star Jorrel Hato for a reported fee of just under £38 million.
The Blues will pay an initial fee of £35.5m plus add-ons for
the 19-year-old, who has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old Dutchman joins following the arrivals of
Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and more.
He told Chelsea's official website: "I'm very excited,
I'm so happy to be here.
"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 so I'm very
happy.
Ajax technical director Alex Kroes said the loss of Hato was
a difficult one for the Eredivisie club but wished him well and thanked him for
his service to the club.
"With the transfer of Jorrel, we lose one of our
pillars in defense," Kroes said. "He is not only a very great talent
and a good player, but he also has a very good character and personality. We
would have preferred to keep him for at least another year, but we understand
that he has now set his sights on this wonderful adventure that awaits him in
the Premier League.
"We wholeheartedly wish him this new challenge and are
proud of what he has done for Ajax and wish him every success in England."
Hato joined Ajax's academy from hometown club Sparta
Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first professional contract four years later
at the age of 16.
Hato becomes Chelsea's eighth summer signing following the
arrivals of Joao Pedro (£60m), Jamie Gittens (£51.1m), Liam Delap (£30m),
Estevao Willian (£29.1m), Dario Essugo (£18.5m), Mamadou Sarr (£12m) and Kendry
Paez (£17.3m).
Chelsea's spending this summer has now broken the £250m
mark, with Liverpool the only Premier League side to have spent more (£295.5m).
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