Chelsea have agreed to pay an initial €40m (£35.5m) for Jorrel Hato, with the teenage Ajax defender set to sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge having already agreed personal terms.
The Netherlands defender is due to fly to London for his medical in the coming days after Chelsea finalised the terms of the deal, which it is understood includes significant add-ons. The 19-year-old has made more than 100 appearances for Ajax’s first team and is capable of playing as a left-back or in central defence. He fits Chelsea’s policy of signing promising young players on long-term deals.
Hato was not included in Ajax’s squad for pre-season competition the Como Cup on Sunday in anticipation of his impending move to Chelsea. In 2023 he became the youngest player to captain Ajax aged 17 and made his senior international debut a few weeks later. He is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest prospects and was part of the Netherlands Under-21 side that lost to England in the semi-finals of the European Championship in Slovakia last month.
He will become Chelsea’s seventh signing of the summer after the arrivals of Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão, Dário Essugo and Mamadou Sarr. They are also in talks with RB Leipzig over a move for Xavi Simons, with the Netherlands forward thought to be valued at around €70m.
The 22-year-old, who is capable of playing in several attacking roles, joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain in January for €50m after two successful loan spells.
Simons has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich but is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League.
Chelsea have already sanctioned the departures of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke and Djordje Petrovic, while João Félix joined the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr on Tuesday after a £44m deal was agreed.
