Greg . 1 day ago

The reasons why Chelsea have gone all in for Ajax ace Jorrel Hato

If recent reports are accurate, Chelsea are on the verge of bringing highly-rated Ajax defender Jorrel Hato to West London.

The exciting 19-year-old - who has already played over 100 times for the Dutch giants in all competitions - has acquired rave reviews for the standard of his performances in the Eredivisie, though the financial might of the Blues appears to have won the race for his services ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Given that the make-up of the Chelsea side has consistently changed throughout the past few transfer windows, questions might be requested as to why the club just can't let one pass without so much upheaval in terms of player movements in or out.

For a start, Enzo Maresca can already call upon the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and many others to fill the various roles across the support line, so the notion that Chelsea are buying players because they can and not necessarily because they need them isn't without foundation.

Hato to provide competition for CucurellaSquad evolution is healthy and necessary, of course, even if the Stamford Bridge outfit do seem to be continuing to take that to the extreme.

Where Hato will suit in has been the subject of much conjecture, but it's trusted that as long as the transfer concludes successfully, he will be anticipated to provide competition and backup to Marc Cucurella on the left side.

It appears that the club are acutely aware that the Spaniard, who played more minutes (4,344) and games (54) than any of his teammates in 2024/25, will need more of a rest during the forthcoming campaign.

Mocked at one time, so much of Chelsea's play comes down their left-hand side now and that's as much to do with Cucurella's engine and ability to obtain forward and add another element to the Blues' attack as anything else.

Hato's challenge, therefore, is to dislodge Cucurella and claim the left-support spot as his own, and his numbers from last season would suggest that he's definitely up for that challenge.

A tackle success rate as high as 66.

7% is on par with any Chelsea player taking part in more than 10 games last season, with Cucurella himself only just shading his potential new teammate with a 68.

1% showing.

Incredible passing rangeHis aggressiveness in the tackle is to be lauded, though a more all-round physicality could be used more wisely, and possibly explains why the West Londoners are preparing to keep him on the left side, at least initially, rather than more centrally where he's tied to obtain 'roughed up' a little more.

Jorrel Hato StatsBetopickAs might be anticipated from a player who has been taught at the Dutch giants, his passing range is otherworldly for a defender.

Not even Moises Caicedo, Chelsea's best passer of the ball from those playing staff that can be considered regular starters, can match up to Hato's 90.

3% pass completion.

It's an area of his game that Hato enjoys too.

“If you play at the Ajax academy, you always obtain that bravery the coaches tell you to play with," he said in a recent interview.

“It’s one of my qualities to dribble past players and create a chance.

There needs to be space to do it, but if there is space, I will always try to look forward for that.

”Youngest Ajax captain in historyThrow in that he became the youngest captain in Ajax's history in December 2023 at just 17 years and 282 days old, and here we have an almost perfect example of the modern hybrid type of defender.

One whose primary role is to service the club's forwards, but who certainly isn't frightened of taking the responsibility to obtain up the pitch when he can.

For all of his technical abilities, he's not frightened to move support to basics when the game calls for it, either.

62 clearances in the Eredivisie last season was only bettered at Chelsea by Cucurella (81), Tosin (83) and Colwill (116).

It's trusted that Hato has already supported terms with the Blues and a £40m manage is being mooted at present.

 That would, astonishingly, take Chelsea's transfer spend this summer to over £250m after Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro were signed, with Xaxi Simons still a distinct possibility at this stage.

Chelsea could be a real threat in 2025/26His signing undoubtedly helps offer Maresca the depth that he believes the team need to continue on their upward curve.

As they showed throughout the recent Club World Cup too, the Blues have finally struck their sweet spot under the Italian, and with such quality additions being added to what was already an emerging squad, there's every reason to think that Chelsea could become a threat in each competition that they take part in during 2025/26.

How much Hato plays a part is solely down to the player himself.

Jason PettigroveBetopick