Jorrel Hato is the latest name in the Chelsea squad ahead of the new season as the Blues unveiled the former Ajax defender today at Stamford Bridge, Softfootball reports.
The 19-year-old who agreed personal terms last week and signed a long-term with the Blues.
Speaking to Chelsea official club media, Hato said he knew it was the right time to switch clubs despite being just 19 in a new country.
He revealed:
“It feels strange to leave everybody in Holland, of course, but for me it’s a new journey with new people in a new culture, a new team, new competitions, smiles Hato, with an occasional glance down at the Chelsea shirt he is wearing, complete with the golden world champions’ crest on the chest.
“I was really thinking about my future and this is what I wanted. I think I will be a good fit for the way Chelsea are playing, so I was sure about taking my step to Chelsea.
“For sure it was a big decision. I played seven years at Ajax and for me it was home – the people, the players, the coaches, the culture.
“So it was not easy to leave, but my feeling was that at this moment I needed to make a step to the biggest club in the biggest competitions, and for me this was the right decision at the right time.”
Hato broke into the Ajax first team at 16 and a year after that he became captain of the club. So, he understands leadership and is ready for the challenge at Stamford Bridge.
He said:
“Actually it happened faster than I thought. A couple of months after saying that, I made my debut, then after that I became a starter in the first team. But I was ambitious, I knew what I wanted and I went for it.
“At the time it didn’t feel like it was happening quickly, but now when I’m looking back, everything went really quick. At that age you don’t think about it like that, you’re just doing it.
“I started in the Under-18s and in November was my debut for Jong Ajax and then in January was my first-team debut. I was in the starting XI I think by March and started the cup final in April. It was so fast.’
Watch the video Chelsea released via its verified X handle on Jorrel Hato unveiling:
Hato in the house. 🏡 pic.twitter.com/XvlCM8STVX
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 3, 2025
Chelsea are the current champions of the FIFA Club World Cup and Hato will be eager to play when the Blues continue their pre-season with a match against Erik Ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, August 8.
