Chelsea are once again turning to youth in their ongoing rebuild and this time, they are looking toward one of Ajax’s brightest young stars.
The London club are tracking a highly-rated teenager who has made waves in the Eredivisie this season.
With an eye on the future and an emphasis on versatile talent, Chelsea are reportedly preparing to make a move.
The interest, first revealed by Ben Jacobs, is beginning to heat up behind the scenes.
The player in question has already caught the attention of several top European sides, including Arsenal.
But it is Chelsea who are now taking concrete steps to explore a deal.
Their recruitment team has been watching closely, impressed by the youngster’s maturity, ball control, and ability to handle pressure at a high level.
Although the Blues have plenty of defenders on their books, this move appears to be part of a longer-term plan.
The player offers the kind of tactical flexibility modern managers crave, capable of playing both as a central defender and on the left side of the backline.
His calmness on the ball and intelligence in positioning have stood out all season as Ajax lost the Eredivisie on the final day to PSV Eindhoven.
And now, with the summer transfer window approaching, Chelsea are weighing up a formal approach for Jorrel Hato, the 19-year-old Dutch talent who many believe could be one of Europe’s next top defenders.
Whether the Blues can outpace the competition remains to be seen, but their interest in Hato is very real and growing.
Jorrel Hato made 31 appearances in the Eredivisie with Ajax. The young defender has been a key part of the Ajax side that performed exceedingly well in the Dutch league.
As Chelsea looking to bolster their backline, Enzo Marsca will be happy to have this 19-year-old Dutch defender who could be the one for the future.
Chelsea’s next priority after Liam Delap is a right-footed left winger. Alejandro Garnacho, Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens are three names under consideration.
The desire to add another winger is more with Mykhailo Mudryk’s absence in mind. Process likely to take time… pic.twitter.com/huqkHess6c
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 1, 2025
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