When the news broke that Chelsea had reached an agreement with Ajax for Jorrel Hato, most fans reacted with quiet confusion or cautious hope. Not because Hato isn’t good, he’s more than good but because Chelsea have spent a significant fee on a teenager again.
Over €40 million for a defender who’s just 18. That’s not a normal move for most clubs, But this is Chelsea in 2025, they don’t do small deals these days.
It’s done. Chelsea have secured Jorrel Hato from Ajax for a fee that’s just over €40 million. For a player who only recently turned 18, that’s a hefty price tag.
And here’s the thing, Hato didn’t just accept Chelsea. He wanted Chelsea. According to Fabrizio Romano, the teenage defender made it clear this was the only move he wanted this summer. That says a lot, especially in a market full of options. And make no mistake, Hato had plenty.
A captain at Ajax, an Eredivisie regular before his 18th birthday, and someone already on the list of top clubs across Europe, this wasn’t a case of Chelsea digging deep into a talent pool and discovering a hidden gem. Everyone knew about Hato. But he chose Stamford Bridge.
But beyond the buzz of another “here we go”, this move raises serious questions, not just about Hato’s talent, but about Chelsea’s bigger strategy.
Is This a Smart Long-Term Investment or Another Gamble?
Let’s be honest. Chelsea’s transfers strategy has been aggressive since Todd Boehly took over. They’ve spent a lot of money, signed many young players, and made quick decisions, but not all of them have been the right ones.
The plan, at least in theory, is to hoard Europe’s best young talents and mold them into future stars. In practice, it’s felt a little like a game of Football Manager with real money.
The list of teenage signings is already long some are still in the squad, some are out on loan, and some have quietly disappeared into the background. So where does Hato fall in all this?
He’s not just any defender. He’s Ajax’s captain at 18. That’s not normal, that kind of responsibility at a club like Ajax means something. It means leadership. It means maturity. It means he’s more than just raw potential.
Being given the armband at Ajax as a teenager isn’t a PR move. Ajax doesn’t hand out captaincies for marketing. They do it because the player deserves it. Hato did, and that says a lot. He’s already played over 50 senior matches.
He played in Europe and was trusted to captain one of the biggest clubs in football, that kind of progress doesn’t just happen, he’s clearly deserved it.
Adapting to the Premier League is not a joke. For every young talent who blossoms, there’s another who fades under the pressure. Chelsea fans have seen both sides of that coin.
Remember when Billy Gilmour looked like the next great midfield talent? Or when Malang Sarr seemed to be the best signing? These cases show just how tough the top level of English football is.
So while this might look like a project signing, the price tag and hype say otherwise. Hato won’t be allowed a quiet year of development. People will expect a lot from him immediately.
And that’s where the risk really is. It’s not about whether Hato is talented, he clearly is. It’s whether Chelsea will give him the right platform to grow or shove him into the pressure cooker too fast.
Chelsea Are Building a New Style Backline Focused on Ball-Playing Defenders
Let’s zoom out for a second and look at the bigger picture. This signing fits a pattern Chelsea are building a new kind of backline.
Gone are the days of classic, bruising defenders who only focus on clearing balls and putting in hard tackles.
This new Chelsea under Enzo Maresca seems to want defenders who are comfortable on the ball, can pass under pressure, and even drift into midfield zones. Basically, defenders who play like midfielders.
Hato is a good example of the kind of defender Chelsea need. He’s left-footed, understands the game well, and stays calm under pressure.
He has a good first touch, makes smart decisions, and doesn’t get frustrated when pressed. That’s not something you usually see in someone of his age, especially in a position where a mistake can change everything.
And that’s not by mistake. Maresca’s system, influenced by Guardiola, leans heavily on technical defenders who can contribute to build-up play.
We could be looking at the end of traditional roles like old-school full-backs or rigid centre-backs at Chelsea. And Hato could be the poster boy for that change.
Look at how Gvardiol operates at City, stepping into midfield, supporting the attack, dragging opponents wide. Or how John Stones becomes an auxiliary midfielder. That’s the footstep Maresca seems to be following.
Chelsea aren't just chasing ball-playing defenders for style points. It’s central to how they want to play. That’s why Hato’s calmness on the ball matters. He’s not being signed to hoof the ball into Row Z. He’s being signed to help Chelsea control games from the back.
Levi Colwill vs. Jorrel Hato – Battle or Partnership?
Now here’s where things get really interesting.
Colwill has already been seen as a cornerstone of Chelsea’s future. Young, left-footed and a fan favorite.
He’s got Premier League experience, England caps, and that rare combination of physicality and composure. So how does Hato fit in?
Can both play on the left side of defense? Technically yes. But not always at the same time, especially if Maresca sticks to a back four.
So is this a sign that Chelsea are future-proofing in case of a big sale? Could they be quietly preparing for a world where Colwill is eventually lured away by a massive bid from elsewhere? Or maybe Maresca sees them coexisting, with Colwill playing slightly wider and Hato more central?
There’s also the option of rotating based on opposition. Hato might start in cup games or against teams that sit back, where his passing and composure can shine. Colwill might play in more physically demanding matches. Either way, it creates competition, and that’s not a bad thing.
But if we’ve learned anything from Chelsea’s recent squad depth issues, it’s that too much talent in one area without a clear plan leads to unhappy players and messy rotations.
That was the story with Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Raheem Sterling last season, talented but without a settled system, their form suffered.
Chelsea need to avoid repeating that mistake with Hato and Colwill.
Maresca’s Plan: Is Hato the New Akanji or Gvardiol?
Enzo Maresca comes in with a blueprint. He’s spent time under Guardiola, and his Leicester side last season played a possession-heavy, positionally fluid style.
In that system, defenders weren’t just defenders. They started attacks. They stepped into midfield. They overloaded flanks. Think about Akanji at City Or Gvardiol drifting on the left to join the midfield line.
That could very well be Hato’s future at Chelsea. He has the potential, calmness, intelligence and passing range. But will he get the time to grow into that role?
This is where Maresca’s influence will be key. If he can create a system where Hato’s strengths are maximized and his weaknesses protected, then Chelsea might just have pulled off a masterstroke.
But there’s a flip side.
Maresca’s style is demanding. It demands a lot from defenders, in terms of positioning, when to move, and how to read space. For someone like Hato, who’s used to Dutch football style, it might take some time to adapt.
That’s where coaching comes in. If Maresca and his staff can patiently guide him, manage his minutes, and give him clarity, then we could see a breakout season sooner than expected.
What Chelsea Must Do to Help Hato Succeed
If Chelsea really want this transfer to work, they need to play it smart not just on paper, but on the pitch.
Hato shouldn’t be rushed straight into the starting XI just because he cost €40 million. Let him learn the pace of English football, adapt to the league’s physicality, and slowly find his rhythm. He’s only 18.
Chelsea’s biggest mistake in recent years hasn’t been buying the wrong players, it’s been throwing them into the deep end without giving them time or a consistent environment.
Maresca must have a clear plan, not just for Hato, but for how he fits into the bigger system alongside Colwill, Disasi, and Fofana. Throwing players into a tactical system without understanding their best qualities would only backfire.
Chelsea also have to resist the temptation of using him in too many roles too early. Give him clarity. One defined job to start with, then evolve as he grows.
Let him master one position before turning him into a Swiss Army knife.
And this can’t be another case of buy-young-and-loan-out. Hato wanted Chelsea. He turned down other offers to come here. Treat him like a key part of the future, not just a financial investment.
Let’s not forget, this kid made the call himself. He chose to leave his captaincy role at Ajax to take on the challenge at Stamford Bridge. That speaks to his mentality.
This signing could go either way. It could be a sign of Chelsea finally moving with purpose and planning or it could be another well-packaged idea that loses its way halfway through.
But one thing’s clear, Jorrel Hato is not just another prospect. He’s a player with leadership, quality, and hunger.
The foundation is there and the potential is real. Now it’s Chelsea’s job not to mess it up.
And if they get it right? They won’t just have a great young defender on their hands, they’ll have someone who could anchor their backline for the next decade.
No more confusion, just a bit of patience, clarity, and proper football decisions, that’s what Hato needs and that’s what Chelsea need.
Because in the end, €40 million is only expensive if you don’t know what to do with it.