Chelsea have reportedly opened talks for promising defender Jorrel Hato as Enzo Maresca looks to shape his squad ahead of the 2025/26 season. Hato, who is a full Dutch international, has been catching the eye for Eredivisie outfit Ajax and is being touted with a move away from the club.
The defender is capable of playing either at centre-back or left-back, and is credited as being one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe. Astute with the ball at his feet, Hato is considered the archetypal modern-day defender, who also, because of his age, has plenty of room for improvement.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that ‘official club-to-club’ talks have started between Chelsea and Ajax, with a view to securing the teenager’s services this summer. The player himself is believed to be open to a move, with personal terms between Hato and Chelsea not expected to be a problem.
Romano reports negotiations are ongoing, but the two clubs have a strong working relationship and are confident about striking a deal. Details surrounding a fee are currently being discussed, but according to Transfermarkt, the 19-year-old is valued at over £30million.
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It comes after talk Chelsea had been closing in on an agreement for Hato’s Netherlands team-mate, Xavi Simons. The attacking midfielder is currently on the books at RB Leipzig, but a move away from the German outfit is expected this summer, with the Bundesliga side believed to be open to a sale.
While a verbal agreement hasn’t been sealed yet between Chelsea and Simons, it has been reported by Sky Germany as ‘all but done’, meaning attention can shortly switch to agreeing on the framework of a deal with RB Leipzig. It’s claimed that Leipzig hold an interest in Carney Chukwuemeka, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £20m in 2022, but found minutes hard to come by and is deemed surplus to requirements by the capital club. Leipzig, who are without European football next year, have hinted at a loan deal, but Chelsea would prefer a permanent sale.
Chelsea are rumoured to be looking for a fee in the region of £40m for Chukwuemeka, which could put him out of Leipzig’s price bracket. It’s not yet known whether Leipzig will be open to a player-plus-cash swap move for Simons, or if both deals will go through separately.