Chelsea Football Club has secured the signing of young Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax for a fee of £37 million. The 19-year-old has penned a seven-year contract with the Blues following a successful medical examination in London over the weekend. Hato becomes Chelsea's eighth signing of the summer transfer window, further bolstering their squad for the upcoming season.

Expressing his excitement about the move, Hato stated, "I'm very excited, I'm so happy to be here. I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I'm very happy." Hato, who debuted for Ajax's first team at the age of 16, has showcased his versatility by playing both as a left-back and a centre-back, even captaining the Ajax side at 17. He has made a total of 111 appearances for the Dutch club and earned six caps for the Netherlands national team since his debut in 2023.

Chelsea's decision to sign Hato makes sense given the current structure of their squad, which includes seven centre-backs but only two naturally left-sided options. With Ben Chilwell out of favor and the need for depth in both central defense and the full-back positions, Hato is expected to provide much-needed competition. He played the majority of last season at Ajax as a centre-back, primarily in a 4-2-3-1 formation but has also adapted to a 4-3-3 setup.

The acquisition of Hato adds to Chelsea's significant summer spending, which has already surpassed £250 million. Other notable signings include Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Joao Pedro from Brighton, and Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, among others. With these additions, Chelsea aims to enhance their squad depth and performance as they prepare for a challenging campaign ahead.