 Hato playing for Ajax in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 March 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Rotterdam, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back / Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2018 | Sparta Rotterdam | ||
| 2018–2022 | Ajax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Jong Ajax | 13 | (1) |
| 2023–2025 | Ajax | 75 | (3) |
| 2025– | Chelsea | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Netherlands U16 | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Netherlands U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Netherlands U21 | 11 | (0) |
| 2023– | Netherlands | 6 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:45, 22 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:15, 26 June 2025 (UTC) | |||
Jorrel Hato (born 7 March 2006) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays either as a centre-back or left-back for Premier League club Chelsea and the Netherlands national team.
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Born in Rotterdam, Hato moved from the youth academy of Sparta Rotterdam to Ajax in 2018.[1]
Ajax
[edit]2022–23: Debut season
[edit]In March 2022, Hato signed his first professional contract, keeping him with Ajax until July 2025 despite reported interest from other European clubs.[2] As captain of the Ajax under-19 team in the UEFA Youth League, he scored a notable solo goal against Napoli in October 2022.[3][4][5] He made his professional debut for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 4 November 2022, coming on as a substitute against FC Dordrecht.[6]
On 11 January 2023, Hato made his senior competitive debut for Ajax in the KNVB Cup against Den Bosch, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win.[7] On 5 February 2023, he made his Eredivisie debut as a substitute against SC Cambuur, becoming the third youngest player to debut for Ajax in the league (16 years, 335 days) behind Ryan Gravenberch and Clarence Seedorf.[8][9] Five days later, on 10 February, he scored his first professional goal while playing for Jong Ajax in an Eerste Divisie match away against FC Den Bosch.[10] Hato quickly gained more first-team opportunities and started the 2023 KNVB Cup final against PSV Eindhoven on 30 April 2023.[11][12] Following his debut season, Hato was awarded the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy as the most talented player from Ajax's youth academy.[13]
2023–2025: First-team regular and vice-captain
[edit]_(4)_(Jorrel_Hato).jpg)
Hato became an undisputed starter and key player for Ajax at the beginning of the 2023–24 season. Despite the team's struggles, the 17-year-old played almost every minute of the campaign across all competitions,[14] earning praise for his consistent performances and maturity. In October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[15] He scored his first senior goal for Ajax against Vitesse on 25 November 2023.[16] Following the departure of Davy Klaassen and Dušan Tadić, and injuries to Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis, Hato was appointed as one of the team's vice-captains. On 14 December 2023, he captained Ajax against AEK Athens in the Europa League, becoming the club's youngest-ever captain in a European match at 17 years and 282 days old.[17] In recognition of his rapid development and importance, Hato signed a new contract extension with Ajax on 12 March 2024, keeping him at the club until June 2028.[7]
Hato continued his role as a key defender in the 2024–25 season under new manager Francesco Farioli, playing primarily at centre-back but also providing cover at left-back.[18] He contributed offensively as well, scoring twice in the Eredivisie and once in the UEFA Europa League by mid-March 2025. At the end of the season, he was named Eredivisie Talent of the Year.[19]
Chelsea
[edit]On 3 August 2025, Hato joined Premier League club Chelsea signing a seven-year contract for a initial fee of £35.5m.[20][21]
International career
[edit]In November 2021, he was included in the Dutch under-16 squad.[22] He became captain of the under-16 Dutch team in 2022.[23]
After brief spells with the U17 and U21 teams, Hato was called up to the senior Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar in November 2023.[24] He made his debut on 21 November 2023 as a half-time substitute for Virgil van Dijk in the 6–0 win against Gibraltar.[25][26] Following his debut, Hato continued to be part of the senior setup, earning four more caps during 2024.[14] His sixth cap came as a substitute in the UEFA Nations League Finals quarter-final second leg against Spain on 23 March 2025.[27]
Personal life
[edit]Hato was born in the Netherlands to a Curaçaoan father and Cape Verdean mother.[28]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 22 August 2025[14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jong Ajax | 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| Ajax | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 12[b] | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 17[c] | 1 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Total | 75 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | 111 | 4 | |||
| Chelsea | 2025–26 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 89 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 125 | 5 | ||
- ^ Includes KNVB Cup
- ^ Eight appearances in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
[edit]- As of match played 20 March 2025[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 0 | |
Honours
[edit]Individual
- Abdelhak Nouri Trophy: 2022–23[13]
- Eredivisie Talent of the Month: August 2023[29]
- Eredivisie Talent of the Year: 2024–25[19]
- Marco van Basten Award: 2024–25
References
[edit]- ^ "Ajax Signs Jorrel Hato". ajax.nl (in Dutch). 14 March 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Ajax behoudt talent ondanks interesse van topclubs: 'Voel me hier op m'n best'". VoetbalPrimeur.nl (in Dutch). 15 March 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "UEFA Youth League scouting MD4". Scouted Football.
- ^ "Briljante goal bezorgt tien Ajacieden kostbaar punt in Youth League". vi.nl.
- ^ "Youth League, Napoli raggiunto dall'Ajax all'87'. Inter ko col Barcellona". Tuttosport.com.
- ^ "Verslag | Zeven goals in Dordrecht: Jong Ajax wint doelpuntrijk duel". www.ajax.nl (in Dutch). 4 November 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Contractverlenging Jorrel Hato". www.ajax.nl (in Dutch). 12 March 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ Twomey, Liam; Johnson, Simon; more (30 July 2025). "Why Chelsea want Jorrel Hato – the teenager with experience beyond his years". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Liveblog Cambuur - Ajax". www.ajax.nl (in Dutch). 5 February 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Samenvatting FC Den Bosch – Jong Ajax | Geen zege voor Ajacieden". www.ajax.nl (in Dutch). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Ajax 1-1 PSV Eindhoven (2-3 pens): PSV triumph in final of few chances". Dutchnews.nl. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "AJAX 1-1 PSV". ESPN. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Abdelhak Nouri Trofee voor Jorrel Hato" (in Dutch). AFC Ajax. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Jorrel Hato at Soccerway
- ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Verslag | Ajax kent geen genade met hekkensluiter Vitesse". www.ajax.nl (in Dutch). 25 November 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Jorrel Hato is Talent of the Year". Ajax.nl (in Dutch). 12 May 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Farioli: Leaving Ajax, eyeing a move to manage in Italy". Yahoo Sports. OneFootball. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Sem Steijn and Renate Jansen big winners at the Eredivisie Awards". eredivisie.eu. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "Jorrel Hato joins Chelsea!". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Jorrel Haro transfer news: Chelsea sign teenage defender fron Ajax for an initial £35.5m plus add-ons". Sky Sports. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Tijn den Boggende in voorselectie Oranje Onder 16". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Profivertrag für Ajax-Talent". fussballtransfers.com.
- ^ "Hato maakt debuut in Oranjeselectie" [Hato debuts in national team squad] (in Dutch). 10 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "'Trots dat ik op zo'n jonge leeftijd mag debuteren'". www.onsoranje.nl. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Zes goals voor Oranje tegen Gibraltar op avond vol primeurs". www.onsoranje.nl. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ "Jorrel Hato". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ Weesenbeek, Martijn van (16 June 2025). "Jorrel Hato: 'Mijn tijd komt nog wel'".
- ^ "Jorrel Hato chosen as Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month for August". Eredivisie. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at the Royal Dutch Football Association website (in Dutch)
- Jorrel Hato – UEFA competition record (archive)
