Chelsea are nearing a deal to sign versatile Ajax defender Jorrel Hato for over £35million as they continue their summer spending spree.
The Blues have already spent heavily this summer by bringing in Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo and Estevao for a combined sum of over £200m.
However, they do not appear to be done yet, as The Athletic reports that Enzo Maresca’s side are nearing a comprise with Ajax over a transfer for the player.
Hato, 19, has been capped six times by the Netherlands at senior level having come up through the ranks as a youngster.
He joined Ajax in 2018 from Sparta Rotterdam and has been a regular member of their first team since making his first appearance in January 2023.
The Dutchman has played 111 times for Ajax and already captained them, while being deployed at both left-back and centre-back.
Chelsea are nearing a deal to sign versatile Ajax defender Jorrel Hato
The Blues appear set to win the race to sign the youngster ahead of the 2025-26 season
Reports in the Netherlands claim that Hato asked to be omitted from the Dutch giants’ pre-season match against Como on Sunday as he looks to complete a move.
Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad reported that the versatile defender told new Ajax boss John Heitinga that he would ‘rather not play’ in the side’s Como Cup final defeat to Como on Sunday.
The outlet claim that the decision is ‘entirely related’ to his potential move to Stamford Bridge though ‘that doesn’t say anything about the status of negotiations, which are currently difficult’.
Last week, ESPN reported that the Blues’ initial bid for the teenager was rejected, but aware of the defender’s desire to leave, Ajax have responded with a counter offer.
His agent Humphry Nijman confirmed to De Telegraaf that the wonderkid is about to be in talks with the Blues.
When asked, he responded: ‘The only thing I can say is that Jorrel is now going to talk to Chelsea.’
The west London outfit have been helped in their summer spending by the departure of Noni Madueke to Arsenal for £52m.
They also boosted their income substantially by winning the newly-expanded Club World Cup earlier this summer, for which they collected an estimated £85m.
Hato has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Liverpool this summer
Arsenal were also in the running to sign the defender but he now looks set to join their London rivals
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