Chelsea Sign Jorrel Hato from Ajax for £35.5m

Chelsea have signed 19-year-old Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax for an initial £35.5m, potentially rising to £38.5m with add-ons. He becomes Chelsea's eighth summer signing, taking their total spending past £250m. Hato, who can also cover left-back, joins on a seven-year deal and is seen as a key long-term investment.

When the 2025 summer transfer window heated up, Chelsea made a significant move by signing 19-year-old Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax for an initial fee of £35.5 million, with add-ons potentially raising the total to £38.5 million (€44.18 million). The Netherlands international, who signed a seven-year deal, becomes Chelsea’s eighth signing of the summer and pushes the club’s total spending past £250 million, second only to Liverpool's £295.5 million.

Hato is highly regarded for his versatility, able to play both as a central defender and left-back, and will provide cover for Marc Cucurella, who featured in nearly 70 games last season. Despite Ajax’s hopes of keeping him for at least another year, the young talent opted to take what he called “the next step” in his career. Chelsea’s recruitment strategy continues to focus on young, high-potential players signed on long contracts with incentivised wages.

Hato joins fellow summer signings Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez. The deal reflects Chelsea's long-term planning under Enzo Maresca, with further reinforcements expected, including potential talks for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons. Hato is expected to integrate with the squad this week.