HULL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Jorrel Hato of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Hull City and Chelsea at MKM Stadium on February 13, 2026 in Hull, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Jorrel Hato joined Chelsea in a £37m deal from Ajax last summer (AMA/Getty)
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has urged the club to sign Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato.
The 19-year-old joined Chelsea in a £37 million deal from Ajax last summer but has struggled to secure a regular role in the team, starting just three Premier League games this season.
Hato, who has six caps for the Netherlands, was the youngest player to captain Ajax and Meulensteen believes the defender could already be looking to leave Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
‘It is a disappointing move for Jorrel Hato because he was absolutely outstanding for Ajax at the time,’ Meulensteen told BetGoat.
‘He was very, very young and was the captain, which says a lot about the trust the manager put in him in terms of his personality and his leadership qualities.
HULL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Chelsea's manager Liam Rosenior congratulates Jorrel Hato at the end of the match during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Hull City and Chelsea on February 13, 2026 in Hull, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Liam Rosenior has been impressed with Jorrel Hato since arriving at Chelsea (Getty)
‘Then a club like Chelsea comes in because they want to pick up all the best players here, there, and everywhere. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they fit in with the way the team wants to play. He’s been one of the guys who hasn’t really settled.
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‘Yes, he can get a big paycheck and a lot of money in the bank, but young players should be playing. Nobody can guarantee success for players wherever they go, but you want to get a sense of the manager’s plan and what he has planned for you.
‘He is also versatile, he can play left-back, centre-back, or as a number six. He is technically very, very good.
‘It doesn’t help his career, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he is looking for a loan move or another challenge elsewhere.
‘If I were any Premier League team, including Manchester United, and he were available or became available, I would definitely be looking at him because he is still very young, and there is a lot of potential to unlock.’
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