Chelsea FC have made the transfer windows over the last 4 years a bit of a joke.
The Blues have been making numerous transfers in large quantities under new leadership, Todd Boehly, and their latest recruit for the upcoming season is Dutch defender Jorrel Hato.
Hato becomes the 49th player to sign for the Blues in the last 4 years, which is an astonishing fact in itself.
The highly rated Dutch defender joined from Ajax on a seven‑year contract until 2032, with a transfer fee reported in the range of £35.5 million to £38 million (around €44 million), including add-ons.
Upon signing, the defender expressed his excitement and plans at Chelsea by stating,
‘I’m very excited; I’m so happy to be here,’ said Hato. ‘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.’
The young, exciting talent’s name has been on the lips of many Chelsea and even Premier League fans who are hopeful of seeing the defender in action soon this month as the new season begins.
In light of this, let’s get to know a bit more about the man himself, Jorrel Hato.
Career Timeline & Football Journey
Born on March 7, 2006, in Rotterdam, the 19-year-old started playing grassroots football at IJVV De Zwervers, a local amateur club in Rotterdam, between 2010 and 2013.
He was spotted early for his technical ability and defensive intelligence.
Around age 9–10 in 2015, he joined Sparta Rotterdam’s youth setup. He developed foundational skills there, but again, this was only at the youth level (U12 to U13).
Here, Hato did not make any senior or reserve team appearances, not even in the U18 Eredivisie.
Post this: Hato joined the famous Ajax academy, aka the De Toekomst, in 2018.
It was here that the defender made his first professional debut in Eerste Divisie (2nd tier Eredivisie) for Jong Ajax (Ajax’s reserve side) against FC Dordrecht as a substitute on 4 November 2022.
Later, the Dutch international also made his senior competitive debut for Ajax FC on 11 January 2023, again as a substitute vs. Den Bosch in the KNVB Cup, where his side registered a 2–0 win.
In terms of his Eredivisie league debut, he came off the bench yet again against SC Cambuur on 5 February 2023, at just 16 years, 335 days old.
After this, he quickly established himself as a regular starter for the Ajax side in the 2023–24 season under manager Maurice Steijn and later under John Van’t Schip.
By age 17, he became the club’s vice‑captain and youngest Ajax captain in European competition in the Europa League fixture vs. AEK Athens on 14 December 2023, at just 17 years and 282 days.
By 6 March 2025, still aged 18, he reached 100 senior appearances for Ajax, the youngest ever to do so in the club’s history.
Style Of Play & Position
Jorrel Hato is a modern ball-playing defender, comfortable carrying the ball forward, initiating build-up from deep with composure, and progressing play under pressure.
Last season, he completed 1,352 passes (2nd most among full‑backs), with 89.3% accuracy, the highest of any Eredivisie full-back.
He was also ranked in the 94th percentile for dribbling among defenders, showcasing that he regularly carries the ball through pressured areas to break defensive lines.
Defensively, he is sound as well.
He combines defensive intelligence and anticipation with aggressive, well-timed tackling and proactive pressing, often stepping into midfield or ball-winning zones with confidence.
Among Ajax defenders, he made a combined 58 tackles and 22 interceptions, ranking second in total defensive actions, and also made the most ball recoveries (130) at the club.
His creative output as a player is also top-notch.
He registered 6 assists last season, the joint-most by any Ajax defender in a single Eredivisie season, and also scored 3 goals.
But one of his major attributes is his availability and lack of injuries or unavailability from the squad.
Last season, he led all European top‑six league players born after Jan 1, 2003, in minutes played since the start of the 2023–24 season (8,347 minutes), showing rare experience for his age.
Hato started off his career as a left-sided center-back at Ajax, but later, due to limits in his height and strength on the ball, he was moved to the left-back position.
In the 2024–25 Eredivisie season, Jorrel Hato played about 94% of his minutes as a left-back, under manager Francesco Farioli, and not as a central defender.
Hato had a 40% aerial duel win rate and a 90% ground duel win rate, highlighting agility and strong ground defending, but he was less dominant aerially, which again might be one of his weaknesses.
Enzo Maresca typically sets up in a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation with fluid phases where one full-back steps into midfield during build‑up, effectively forming a back three in possession.
In that system, Hato is expected to play primarily as a left-back, providing both cover and attacking support.
In Farioli’s Ajax system, he was mainly operating as a left-back in the 2024–25 season as well.
Hato featured higher and more advanced than he had previously as a center-back, supporting both build-up and attack.
In Maresca’s system, he fits seamlessly into a fluid left-back role, able to tuck into midfield when in possession and push forward in the attacking phase.
He offers rotation depth behind Marc Cucurella, whose high-minute load means rest or cover will likely be needed.
In terms of player comparison, he is often likened to Manchester City’s Nathan Aké for versatility and left-sided deployment and ability to play both left centre back and left back.
He is also compared to Jurriën Timber, who was also of the Ajax academy and is now at Arsenal FC, in terms of the similar height they have, technical style, and adaptability to play both as a centre back and full back.
Notable Achievements
In his young and short career, Jorrel Hato has managed to achieve some considerable milestones.
Hato was awarded the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year in Eredivisie for the 2024–25 season.
He was voted the league’s top emerging player by all Eredivisie head coaches and the national team coach in this award for outstanding contributions, including 2 goals, 6 assists, and 90% passing accuracy, over 31 league appearances.
He was also awarded the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month for August 2023 and earned top monthly young talent recognition (94.1% opponent-half passing, leading tackles/intercepts) for Ajax in the early season.
Additionally, he also became the youngest ever Ajax player to reach 100 senior appearances, joining the Club of 100 at just 18 years old.
In terms of goals and assists output, across all competitions, the defender scored 3 goals and assisted 6 times across 55 appearances for the club last season.
Across his entire Ajax career, he has managed to score 4 goals and register 9 assists.
In terms of his international career, Hato captained the Netherlands U16 side in 2022 and progressed naturally through the U17 and U21 Dutch setups.
He made his senior Netherlands debut on 21 November 2023 vs. Gibraltar, at 17 years and 259 days, becoming the second-youngest Dutch senior debutant in the post-war era behind Matthijs de Ligt.
Over his senior international career with the Netherlands, he has accumulated six senior appearances by March 2025, including playing in the UEFA Nations League Finals quarter-final against Spain.
One of his notable standout performances came in the Europa Conference League Round of 16 first leg against Aston Villa.
In a high-pressure home leg against a strong Aston Villa side, Hato was voted Man of the Match, anchoring Ajax’s defense and commanding duels with composure.
The game ended 0–0, but Hato’s presence stood out under constant Villa pressure.
Another notable performance came in the UEFA Champions League.
In the Champions League third qualifying round 2nd leg against Panathinaikos on Aug 15, 2024, Hato was active in the build-up, showing pressing ability and composure.
While Ajax progressed comfortably, his performance caught attention for his dribbling and ball progression on the European stage.
Hato has had standout performances in the Eredivisie as well.
Against Sparta Rotterdam in a 2–2 draw, Hato posted a 7.34 WhoScored rating, featuring 95.3% passing accuracy and 6 tackles.
Critics praised his reliability in possession even under pressure.
Personal Background
Hato was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on 7 March 2006.
The 19-year-old defender weighs around 76 kg and is 1.82 m (182 cm) in height.
He grew up in Rotterdam-Zuid, in the neighborhood of Sportdorp/IJsselmonde, very close to Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium.
Born to a mother of Dutch nationality and a father of Curaçaoan descent, his family has Cape Verdean roots and are lifelong Feyenoord fans.
Due to his parents’ influence, he was even spotted celebrating Feyenoord’s first Dutch title in 18 years in the streets of Rotterdam when they won the league in 2017, indicating he also might have been a Feyenoord fan as a child.
His father was born in Curaçao, and he moved to the Netherlands at age 7.
He worked as an electrician in the construction sector after he could not make his dream of becoming a footballer come true.
Hato’s father was also a talented footballer, even if he didn’t reach the same professional heights as his son.
After he moved to the Netherlands and joined the youth academy of RKC Waalwijk, a professional football club in Waalwijk, in the second tier of Dutch football.
While he never secured a professional contract, he always loved playing the game at an amateur level.
He’s incredibly proud to see Jorrel living the dream he couldn’t quite achieve himself. As he put it himself,
“No, I didn’t make it as a pro. Football wasn’t for me with all its obligations. I preferred amateur football much more.”
His father, being a Feyenoord fan, even tried to get his son trials and an eventual pro contract at the club, but never managed to make things official and sign that contract.
His father, in an interview with RTV Rijnmond, stated,
They didn’t think he was good enough. Jorrel played for Feyenoord’s amateur side, so they knew him. But we never heard anything from them.
Post this, Hato played for youth teams in IJVV De Zwervers and Sparta Rotterdam before eventually moving to Ajax in 2018, who are hardcore rivals of Feyenoord.
His father, being a Feyenoord fan, kept his alliances straight by refusing to wear an Ajax jersey even after his son signed for the club.
Jokingly, his father, in an interview, stated,
“I’ve made a bet with Jorrel,” he says. “I’ll only wear that shirt once he scores his first goal.
Hato’s first goal for Ajax came against Vitesse Arnhem in November 2023, so we can safely assume Hato won this bet.
Hato’s mother was born in the Netherlands with Cape Verdean roots.
She works as a bookkeeper/accountant.
She cultivated a calm and disciplined upbringing for her children by encouraging her students to take studies and academics as their priority, sometimes even before football.
Reflecting on this in an Ajax documentary, Hato explained how growing up, his parents did not even think about him making a career in football, and stated,
They didn’t necessarily think I should make it as a professional footballer. It was more like: if you don’t behave at school, you’re out of football. That’s kind of how it was. So I wasn’t pushed at all in football. To be honest, my parents and I didn’t know the difference between a professional club and an amateur club back then.
Hato spent his early years playing outside and in local amateur setups, growing up in a working-class, football-loving community and in a mixed Dutch-Caribbean family environment.
Growing up, Hato wasn’t always a quiet kid. In the same Ajax documentary, he revealed that as a kid, he would often get into fights and create trouble.
He stated,
At school, I wasn’t the nicest kid either. I was just a nasty kid. Fighting, a lot of fighting. That was usually my problem,” he reflects. “I was a smart kid, but fighting was a problem.
Maybe this is the reason why his parents pushed him even more to be disciplined and focus on school on studies rather than football in his childhood.
In terms of siblings, Hato has one younger brother, who was born around 2011. His name is Elgyn Hato.
He is also a professional footballer like his brother. In 2024, he moved from Sparta Rotterdam’s youth setup to Ajax’s U14 squad.
Unlike his older brother, who is left-footed, Elgyn is two-footed.
The Hato brothers often played together in their childhood, and Elgyn reflected on the quirky little football games they used to play back at their place, which helped him polish his footballing skills.
Tweebenige Elgyn Hato: 'Oefenen met m'n broer' ⚽️#ForTheFuture pic.twitter.com/LQNx7VKakB
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) March 8, 2025
He stated,
We had two doors, one through which we played with our left foot and one with our right foot. You were only allowed to touch him once. If it didn’t go well, he’d smack me on the back of the head.
As a player, Elgyn plays as a defensive midfielder (also capable in defense), known for excellent two-footed passing and energy.
Jorrel Hato’s nationality is officially Dutch; however, he is also eligible to play for Curaçao. Transfermarkt lists dual national eligibility for the defender.
In terms of language, Hato speaks Dutch, as it is the native language and used in all youth academies and national team communications in the Eredivisie and across the Netherlands.
He is also likely fluent in English, given Ajax’s international environment and interview norms where players often speak in English.
The left back may have some knowledge of Papiamentu or Portuguese; it may be possible given his Curaçao/Cape Verdean heritage, though it is unconfirmed.
In terms of religion, based on Caribbean cultural norms (Curaçao, Cape Verde), it is likely that Hato practices Christianity (often Catholic or Protestant is common), although it is not officially confirmed.
Relationship Status
As of now, Jorrel Hato is confirmed to be single, with no official record of a girlfriend or public romantic relationship.
Multiple Dutch sports and entertainment outlets, including FCUpdate and Voetbalflitsen, have consistently reported that Hato is fully focused on his football career and has not been seen in public with a partner.
However in 2024, social media buzz briefly flared after Dutch gossip page Reality FBI claimed Hato was spotted vacationing in Ibiza with 31-year-old influencer Kelly Mexy.
Kelly Mexy is a Dutch lifestyle and beauty influencer with 120k followers on Instagram.
The rumor stirred speculation online, some fans noted he unfollowed several female accounts shortly afterward, possibly fueling theories of a short-lived connection.
However, no photo or credible evidence ever emerged, and Hato himself did not comment, leaving the story unconfirmed and likely exaggerated.
Lifestyle & Hobbies
In his sparetime, Hato has many interests apart from football and lives an interesting lifestyle.
In terms of music although Hato hasn’t talked about his favorite music in interviews, but his social media and public appearances give some clues.
In Chelsea’s official transfer announcement, the background track was Drake’s “What Did I Miss”, showing his interest in hip-hop.
He also used Gunna’s “Living Wild” in a separate social media post. Both songs are from popular rap artists, suggesting Hato enjoys hip-hop and rap music, which is common among many Gen-Z footballers.
In terms of his fashion, his fashion can be described as a blend of high-end luxury and sophisticated streetwear.
He favors brands that combine comfort with exclusive design and quality materials. His style leans towards a modern, elevated look with a touch of athletic influence.
During his international duty with the Dutch national team, Hato was spotted wearing a fully coordinated RHUDE Hamptons outfit from top to bottom.
He has a thing for dope sneakers, as well.
Here in the above post, he was also seen wearing the RICK OWENS FW25 CONCORDIANS JUMBOLACE LOW shoes which are priced at £700.05 on the official website.
In another post he was seen donning a Week End Walk Sneaker by Loro Piana whic is priced at £773.90 on the official website.
He also has an admiration for Baseball Jackets by luxury brands.
In one post, wherein Hato uploaded pics of his arrival to the Dutch International team for duty, he was seen wearing the Black Baseball Jacket By Teddy Blouson which is available at the Flaneur website for £395.04.
In another post, he was seen wearing the Prada Re-Nylon jacket which is available on sites like MyTheresa for a price of £1,435.10. This clearly shows he has a liking towards these athletic jackets as well.
Although Hato has never revealed his favourite destination to go to, he has a significant symbolic location for him, which is is the Cruyff Court in Rotterdam-Zuid.
This is where where he used to play as a child.
In May 2025, Hato received the prestigious Johan Cruyff Prize for Talent of the Year, which also granted him the opportunity to have this very Cruyff Court named after him in his local community.
As part of the award ceremony, he participated in an event at the Cruyff Court where he played as a child, symbolizing how Talents of the Year give back to the places that shaped them.
In terms of role models and mentors, Jurrien Timber, former Ajax defender now at Arsenal, played a key mentor-like role for Hato during his early senior phase.
Hato said in an interview that while coaches pushed him to model his game on Van Dijk, he personally looked up to Timber, admiring his calmness on the ball and versatility as a defender.
He stated,
Coaches told me that I always needed to look up to Virgil van Dijk, but when I played in the under-18s, I always looked up to Jurrien Timber. When I came into the first team, he was my mentor. I love his playing style, his calmness on the ball. And he is just a great defender in defending terms.
Social Media Presence
Hato is not active on many social media platforms, but he does have an official Instagram account where he connects with his fans.
His Instagram handle has a strong following of 211,000 followers, with 96 posts and 302 accounts he follows. Interestingly, Instagram is his only official social media account, as he does not have a TikTok or presence on any other platforms.
Among his Instagram content, one reel stands out the most.
His farewell reel to Ajax, posted before his transfer to Chelsea FC, became his most viral post, gaining 1.2 million views and 100,715 likes.
This emotional video featured a collection of clips showing his journey from Ajax’s youth academy to the senior team, marking the end of an important chapter in his career.
His second most popular post is the announcement video of his move to Chelsea FC. Arto posted it himself, using the background track “What Did I Miss” by Drake. This reel caught the attention of many fans and reached around 548,000 views.
Another viral moment on his Instagram came from a match between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven last season.
In this game, Arto made an impressive run, winning the ball and dribbling deep into the opponent’s half and penalty box.
This highlight was shared as a collaborative reel between Ajax FC’s official account and Arto’s own page, and it received around 746,000 views and 30,278 likes.
Overall, his social media presence is limited to Instagram, and him posting only 92 posts from 2022, when he joined Instagram, showcases that he only posts major announcements and match moments on his social media and not his everyday life.
Net Worth, Salary & Endorsements
Hato’s estimated net worth is between €1 million and €2 million (~£880,000–£1.75M), as reported by Mabumbe biography profiles.
For the 2024–25 season at Ajax, Hato’s estimated gross weekly salary was €19,615, which equates to around £17,250, according to Capology.
According to De Telegraaf, as part of his expected move to Chelsea, Jorrel Hato is set to double his salary compared to what he earned at Ajax.
Although, the exact number was not shared if we go by Capology’s numbers in terms of his wages last season at Ajax, the defender is set to earn around £34,500 in wages, although the official number might be higher than this inclusive of performances bonus, incentives and other things.
In terms of his valuation as a player, as of May 2025, Transfermarkt lists Hato’s market value at €35 million (£31 million), reflecting his rise as a top young defender in Europe.
Hato also recently got into the world of brand deals and endorsements.
Hato is exclusively signed as an Adidas athlete.
On October 25, 2024, Jorrel and Adidas launched a new campaign.
The defender posted on Instagram featuring the Adidas Adizero Aruku sneakers.
In terms of agent representation, Hato is represented by Humphrey Nijman, a well-known figure in Dutch football management who has most recently facilitated his big move to Chelsea.
Nijman is the CEO and Executive Director of FootballMix B.V., a sports talent agency based in Weerdijk, Warmer, Netherlands.
The agency was founded in 1992 and has since been dedicated to player management, consultancy, and career representation, especially in football.
Under Humphrey Nijman’s leadership, the agency represents several top talents from the Dutch football scene, including Jorrel Hato.
Another standout player they manage is Ryan Flamingo, who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for PSV Eindhoven.
Other notable names on their client list include Levy Garcia, Caden Wolff, and Naldin Bakker.
FootballMix B.V. also goes beyond just player representation.
They work with coaches, managers, and assistant managers, helping them secure roles at clubs that match their ambitions.
Notably, they represent Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, as well as Marcel Keizer, who is currently an assistant coach in the Saudi league with Al Jazira.
Gaming Coverage
The newest addition to Chelsea FC is also making a mark in the world of football gaming.
In the latest FC 25 update on SoFIFA (July 17), Hato is rated with an overall rating of 77, reflecting his rising status in European football.
What makes Hato especially exciting for career mode players is his high potential rating of 88, a clear sign that he’s considered one of the top young prospects in the game.
His best attribute is his pace, rated at 86, making him a fast and reliable defender, especially for those looking for speed at the back.
In terms of gameplay stats, Hato has a 3-star weak foot, 2-star skill moves, a Defensive rating of 74, and a Physicality rating of 71.
In Football Manager 2024 (FM24), Hato was consistently listed among the top wonderkids; trusted sources like FM Scout and Operation Sports included him in elite prospect shortlists.
Passion4FM rated him as one of the best young defenders to sign, citing his versatility (LB, CB, inverted wing-back) and high upside and rapid growth in the game.
Right then, that’s everything we know about the Chelsea defender, Jorrel Hato.
Hato’s journey reflects discipline, maturity, and ambition far beyond his years.
Whether it’s on the pitch, through brand partnerships, or in how he carries himself off the field, he stands out as a new-generation athlete.
As his career unfolds, all signs point to an overly promising future.
