London, July 28 – Chelsea appear to have beaten Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool in the race for Jorrel Hato, with the highly rated Ajax defender understood to have informed both clubs of his decision to move to Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old opted out of Ajax’s latest pre-season friendly as talks with Chelsea advanced, hoping to avoid any last-minute injury that could derail the transfer. Sources in the Netherlands report that an agreement between the two clubs is nearing completion, with the proposed fee expected to exceed €40 million (£35m).
Although Dutch outlets have long valued Hato significantly higher, Chelsea are believed to be finalising a structure that suits all parties. The final fee may yet include performance-related bonuses and add-ons.
Hato, who has already captained Ajax and is widely regarded as one of the finest defensive prospects in the world, will add further youth and versatility to Chelsea’s long-term project under Enzo Maresca. Comfortable at centre-back and left-back, his maturity and composure on the ball have attracted scouts from across Europe.
Should the deal go through as expected, Hato will become the latest high-profile addition to Chelsea’s strategy of investing in elite young talent.