Chelsea sign teenage defender from Ajax for an initial £35.5m plus add-ons
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Chelsea have completed the signing of teenage defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax to take their summer spending beyond £250m.
The Blues will pay an initial fee of £35.5m plus add-ons for the 19-year-old, who has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Ajax announced the two clubs had agreed on a deal worth £38.5m (€44.18m) for Hato.
The Netherlands international fits into Chelsea’s strategy of signing young developing players on low base wages and on heavily incentivised contracts.
The Club World Cup champions have been keen to sign Hato as he can also provide cover for Marc Cucurella at left-back, who played nearly 70 games last season for Chelsea and Spain.
Hato, who will join up with his new Chelsea team-mates this week, became the third-youngest player ever to debut for Ajax in the Eredivisie, aged 16, and then captained Ajax as a 17-year-old.
He told Chelsea’s official website: “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 becomes Chelsea’s eighth summer signing following the arrivals of Joao Pedro (£60m), Jamie Gittens (£51.1m), Liam Delap (£30m), Estevao Willian (£29.1m), Dario Essugo (£18.5m), Mamadou Sarr (£12m) and Kendry Paez (£17.3m).
Chelsea’s spending this summer has now broken the £250m mark, with Liverpool the only Premier League side to have spent more (£295.5m).
Enzo Maresca’s side could still make more additions this summer, with Chelsea in talks over signing RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons.
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