Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing 19-year-old Dutch wonderkid Jorrel Hato from Ajax in the summer transfer window.
According to an update by the reliable Mike Verweij, as relayed by Voetbal Nieuws, Jorrel Hato is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are combing the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window and have set their sights on the Ajax wonderkid. They have “held informal talks” to sign the Dutch defensive sensation, with Arsenal and Liverpool also keen on signing him.
The rise and rise of Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato is the latest highly-rated wonderkid to rise in prominence in his homeland. Several prodigies have burst into the limelight in the Netherlands in the last few years, with Ruben van Bommel and Givairo Read among the youngsters to make a mark in the Eredivisie. However, Hato is the most promising prospect in the country.
The teenage sensation broke into the first-team squad at Ajax as a 16-year-old in January 2023, and he has come leaps and bounds since then. The 19-year-old is already a mainstay at the back for his club and country, turning out over 100 times thus far for Ajax. Meanwhile, Hato’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
A man in demand
Mikel Arteta appreciates versatility and has loaded his squad with players who can reprise multiple roles. So, amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term futures of Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Hato has emerged as a viable target for Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s interest in Jorrel Hato is understandable. Virgil van Dijk is approaching the twilight of his career, while Andrew Robertson has shown signs of age catching up with him in the last 12 months. So, the Dutch wonderkid is an option worth considering, as he can play as a centre-back and a left-back.
As for Chelsea, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile face an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge heading into the summer transfer window. So, Hato is a viable target, and he can be a backup to Marc Cucurella for the left-back berth. Meanwhile, Mike Verweij has revealed that the Blues have held informal talks to sign the 19-year-old Dutchman.
With Chelsea ramping up the efforts to sign the Dutch wonderkid, a summer move might be on the cards. However, it will be interesting to see if Arsenal and Liverpool step up their interest in Hato in the coming months.