Chelsea are on the verge of completing the signing of highly-rated Dutch defender, Jorrel Hato from Ajax as he prepares to undergo medical after the Stamford Bridge recruitment department successfully reached an agreement with the Eredivisie heavyweights.
The central defender who has been described as World class is ready to embark on fresh challenge in West London after Maresca has been determined to secure further reinforcements in the aftermath of enjoying Club World Cup glory in the United States during the summer.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his X handle , Chelsea and Ajax have completed all necessary documents for the transfer of the Dutch defender who is set to undergo his medical today, after which he will sign a long-term contract with the Blues keeping him at the club until June 2032. He will join the likes of Jamie Gittens , Joao Pedro and Liam Delap who arrives Stamford Bridge this summer. The tweet reads:
Hato is set to become Chelsea's ninth signing of a busy summer window, pushing the club's total spending close to 300 million. While the 19-year-old Dutch international may not be the most high-profile arrival, he could prove to be one of the most significant additions to Enzo Maresca's squad, given his immense potential and long-term upside.
Hato has the potential to become one of the best defenders in the game, whether employed as a centre-back or a left-back. Indeed, only Barcelona wonderkid Pau Cubarsi and Arsenal 's William Saliba have a higher ceiling than him when it comes to centre-backs.
Chelsea are also signing him at an excellent price. While Ajax wanted a fee of 60m, the Blues have got him for a fraction of that, even undercutting the player's Estimated Transfer Value which sits at 46m.
Although Ajax retain a sell-on percentage, Hato has the potential to become a long-term fixture in the Chelsea team. There is however, a potential concern for im, breaking into Chelsea's star-studded squad and securing regular game time could prove challenging for the young defender. Some observers fear this might hinder his development