Ajax star makes feelings clear amid 'difficult' transfer negotiations with Chelsea

Jorrel Hato asked to be left out of Ajax's friendly against Como on the weekend because he's in negotiations to join Chelsea. Hato has been eyed by a number of Premier League sides this summer after catching the eye of scouts and Chelsea are in pole position to sign him.

The 19-year-old defender, who can play at centre-back and left-back, has already made 111 appearances for the Dutch giants. He still has three years left on his contract with Ajax, but it now seems likely he will leave this summer.

Liverpool and Arsenal have both been credited with interest in the youngster whose versatility and experience make him an attractive prospect. Ajax are braced for his exit after Hato made it clear to head coach John Heitinga that he would rather not play against on Sunday.

That’s according to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, who report that negotiations with Chelsea remain ‘difficult’ despite the player’s desire to leave. Ajax are understood to be seeking a fee of between €55-60million (£48m-£52.5m) for Hato, while Chelsea are aiming for a figure closer to £40m.

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Hato has now missed two straight pre-season matches for Ajax, having also sat out of the previous game against Celtic. Heitinga had claimed his first absence was due to a lack of match fitness, but it is clear that more is going on.

Chelsea want a left-back to challenge Marc Cucurella, with Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Ishe Samuels-Smith all leaving this summer. They opened negotiations for the 2024/25 Eredivisie Talent of the Season last week and are hoping to progress them this week.

“Yes, the club [Chelsea] have contacted Ajax,” Hato’s agent Humphry Nijman told De Telegraaf on Wednesday.

Hato appears to have changed his tune over the past month, having previously declared himself to be “at home” in Amsterdam. He played 50 times last season as Ajax came up just short of rivals PSV Eindhoven in the league and appeared determined to kick on.

“The smartest thing is to look ahead to pre-season, that’s what I do,” Hato told the club website. “Of course you want to achieve things in the end: the Champions League, a World Cup and a European Championship, I still have plenty of time. I don’t think I absolutely have to win the Champions League in two years.

“In the Dutch league, you have to show how good you are against the big clubs. Ultimately, I have to continue to develop the things I am already good at, so that it becomes top. How do I describe my time at Ajax? Ajax is home for me. I just feel at home here.”

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