Jorrel Hato is definitely leaving Ajax. Chelsea is taking over the nineteen-year-old defender for at least 44.18 million euros. This makes Hato the fifth most lucrative outgoing transfer in Ajax history.
The Rotterdam native has signed a contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2032, who have been after him for some time.
Reportedly, Ajax initially wanted to receive at least 50 million euros for Hato. But eventually, the two clubs reached an agreement on a transfer of at least 44.18 million euros.
This puts Hato in fifth place on the list of the most expensive outgoing transfers from Ajax. Only Antony, Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez left Amsterdam for a higher amount. On the list of most expensive outgoing transfers from the Eredivisie, Hato occupies sixth place.
Hato started in the youth academy of Sparta and moved to Ajax in 2018 at the age of twelve. Barely five years later, he made his debut in the Amsterdam main squad. The cup match against FC Den Bosch in January 2023 was the first of a total of 111 appearances for Ajax.
In November 2023, Hato made his international debut against Gibraltar as a seventeen-year-old. This makes him the second youngest Orange debutant since 1931, after De Ligt. Hato now has six international matches to his name.
Hato can become the fifteenth Dutchman in a Chelsea shirt. Among others, Ruud Gullit, Ed de Goeij, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Boudewijn Zenden, Arjen Robben and Nathan Aké preceded him.
Hato is far from Chelsea’s only top purchase. Earlier this summer, João Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Liam Delap (Ipswich Town) and Dário Essugo (Sporting CP), among others, came to Stamford Bridge for a lot of money.