Chelsea are still in the market for new signings and the Blues could soon swoop for an Ajax defender who has been on the radar of both Arsenal and Liverpool in the past 12 months
Chelsea are understood to be mulling over a move for Jorrel Hato, the highly-rated Ajax defender who has previously been of interest to both Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Blues are in the market for more quality reinforcements ahead of the new Premier League campaign and have seen their coffers significantly boosted by their ventures at the Club World Cup, which has netted them an estimated £97million.
Deals for Liam Delap and Joao Pedro means Enzo Maresca already has far more depth in attack ahead of the 2025-26 season.
And it’s now emerged that Chelsea are keen on strengthening at the other end of the pitch before the transfer window shuts with a new defender on their summer wishlist.
With that in mind, football.london says that Hato, 19, is emerging as a serious target for Chelsea, though they are not the only English team who admire the Netherlands star.
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Liverpool are known to be big fans of the central defender, who can also operate at left-back. Arsenal, too, have previously been credited with an interest in Hato, who it’s understood could be snapped up for around £40m this summer.
It’s Hato’s versatility which seems to appeal to Chelsea, with the report adding that they are set to be without a natural left-back to provide competition and support for Marc Cucurella.
That’s because Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Ishe Samuels-Smith are all expected to depart this summer with the latter currently in talks over a move to the Blues’ sister club, Strasbourg.
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Hato has made a big impression since breaking into the Ajax first-team and, as outlined above, has regularly been linked with a move to the Premier League.
The defender’s presence at Anfield for a league game between Liverpool and Ipswich Town back in January only fuelled speculation that the Ajax star was primed to swap Amsterdam for Merseyside. But it was subsequently explained that Hato was simply at the game after being invited by his friend, Ryan Gravenberch.
Speaking about transfer speculation previously, Hato said: “I read it all [the transfer rumours]. But I also know that not everything was right.
“For my development it’s best that I stay at Ajax now. I was invited by Ryan Gravenberch. But I didn’t speak to a director there. Liverpool played well and the atmosphere in the stadium was good, but there is no more to say.”
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