Arsenal to be leading rival clubs in the race to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato

In the competition to recruit Jorrel Hato, Arsenal seems to have surpassed Chelsea. After his stellar performances for Ajax, the 19-year-old defender has long been linked to a move to the Premier League.

Hato made 31 appearances in the Eredivisie this season, contributing two goals and six assists. His contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena expires in June 2028. He was a key member of the team that helped the Dutch powerhouses place second and earn a Champions League spot.

Despite playing left-back for the majority of the season, the Netherlands international, who marked his 100th game for Ajax in March, has previously excelled as a center-back. Hato has drawn interest from numerous elite clubs, thus his quick ascent to the first team has not gone unnoticed.

Chelsea contacted Ajax about the youth earlier this summer, reportedly having preliminary discussions regarding a possible deal, according to CaughtOffside. But according to the source, Arsenal has subsequently jumped ahead of the Blues and started “official talks.”

Arsenal hold positive talks to sign Dutch wonderkid

According to Schira, Hato, who is considered to be among the top youngsters in Europe, is attracting a lot of interest. This week, FootballTransfers reported that Hato and Liverpool had discussions about a high-profile summer transfer for the Ajax defender.

Ajax is “open” to selling Hato this summer, according to Duncan Castles, but they will probably expect a high price for their young star after recovering from challenging on- and off-field problems the previous season.

According to reports, the player is carefully considering the offered project, and Arsenal has established formal communication with both Ajax and the player’s representation. All sides have had fruitful discussions.

Since Jorginho moved on and Thomas Partey is scheduled to go at the end of his contract, Arsenal is also anticipated to make other midfield additions. Martin Zubimendi is now in London to complete his transfer to the north London club, but more players may be joining soon.

This summer, Arteta is also thought to prioritize attacking players, with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko being the key targets. A left-winger may also be pursued.