Ajax have swatted away Chelsea’s first attempt to sign Jorrel Hato – but the teenage defender’s future at the Johan Cruyff Arena already hangs in the balance, with his on-pitch role dwindling as a €40 million standoff heats up.
The 19-year-old’s days in Amsterdam may be numbered. Though a deal isn’t done, insiders hint Hato’s 2-0 home win over Twente on May 18 could go down as his final Ajax appearance, should Chelsea meet the club’s valuation. The writing was on the wall when he, like fellow U23 star Kenneth Taylor, was restricted to 45-minute cameos recently – a clear sign his focus has shifted.
Chelsea’s initial €40 million offer was swiftly dismissed, and Ajax sporting director Alex Kroes left no room for ambiguity: he’s holding out for €55 million to €60 million. Sources close to the club suggest a compromise is likely – “€50 million would hardly be chump change,” quipped one insider – but talks remain tense as both sides jostle over the final figure. Details like potential sell-on clauses for Ajax are still up in the air, set to be thrashed out in the coming days.
Kroes, meanwhile, has barely put his phone down. Spotted pacing the shores of Lake Como, he’s been glued to calls – not just with Chelsea. Between Como Cup duties and Hato negotiations, the busy director is juggling sales of Chuba Akpom and Ahmetcan Kaplan, finalizing Oscar Gloukh’s signing, and arranging Jorrit Hiltens’ medical.
For Hato, a move to Stamford Bridge would cap a meteoric rise. The left-back-cum-centre-back has already outgrown Ajax’s plans, and with Chelsea pushing hard, this transfer saga feels less like a if, more like a when – provided the price is right.
