Ten Hag believes Hato will excel at Chelsea after leaving Ajax
Newcomer Jorrel Hato Set to Shine at Chelsea
Chelsea have bolstered their defensive ranks with the arrival of Jorrel Hato, a highly-rated young talent from the Netherlands. Erik ten Hag, the current head coach of Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, was full of praise for the new signing before his transfer, expressing that he was "absolutely convinced" Hato would succeed at Chelsea.
Hato impressed during his time at Ajax in the 2024-25 Eredivisie season, making over 100 senior appearances by that point. His technical intelligence, strong passing ability, and versatility in defence were standout features, with the ability to play both centre-back and left-back positions. He ranked in the 95th percentile for through balls per 90 minutes, reflecting his advanced passing range and possession skills [2][3]. Hato also demonstrated leadership qualities, occasionally captaining Ajax during his tenure.
In the league, Hato was among the top performers, providing six assists and scoring twice. Among defenders, only Souffian El Karouani of Utrecht offered more assists [1]. Ten Hag's statement suggests that Hato might have contributed to Ajax winning titles had he been there.
Despite leaving Ajax in 2022 before Hato rose into the first-team, Ten Hag still believes Hato has all the qualities needed to become a very successful player at Chelsea. He highlighted Hato's excellent mentality, versatility, and high-level performance, describing him as one of the best players in the Eredivisie.
The Premier League debut for the promising defender will come this Sunday against Crystal Palace, marking the start of what is expected to be a crucial role for Hato this season. Meanwhile, Levi Colwill, a fellow centre-back, is expected to be absent for much of the 2025-26 campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
As Hato transitions to the Premier League, Chelsea fans will eagerly anticipate the impact of this exciting new addition to their defence.
Sources:
[1] ESPN, "Erik ten Hag evaluates Jorrel Hato very positively before transfer to Chelsea," 2025.
[2] WhoScored, "Jorrel Hato 2024-25 Eredivisie Season Stats," 2025.
[3] StatsBomb, "Jorrel Hato 2024-25 Eredivisie Season Stats," 2025.
Hato's impressive performances and skills as a versatile defender, demonstrated during his time in the Eredivisie, have earned him the praise of Erik ten Hag, the current head coach of Bayer Leverkusen. This Sunday, Hato will make his Premier League debut at Chelsea, aiming to continue his success in European-leagues and potentially help the team claim victories in the Premier League.
