Chelsea have officially signed Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax in a deal valued at £37 million.
The 19-year-old Netherlands international has agreed to a seven-year contract with the Premier League club after completing his medical in London over the weekend.
Hato becomes Chelsea’s eighth signing of the summer as the Blues continue to strengthen their backline ahead of the upcoming season.
“I’m very excited and happy to be here,” Hato said after finalising the move. “I gave my future a lot of thought and felt ready to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the perfect place for that.”
A graduate of Ajax’s famed youth academy, Hato made his senior debut at 16 and quickly became a key figure in the squad. Known for his versatility, he played both as a centre-back and left-back, and even captained Ajax at the age of 17.
Before his departure, he made 111 first-team appearances for the Dutch side. Hato earned his senior international debut for the Netherlands in 2023 against Gibraltar and has since collected six caps.
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