Football General Manager
- Chelsea close in on Hato transfer
- Negotiating terms with Ajax
- Was left out of squad for Como friendly
According to The Athletic the Blues are closing in on reaching an agreement with Ajax over the transfer of Hato. Talks are still ongoing between the two clubs, while the Dutch defender has agreed on personal terms with Premier League giants.
The report adds that Chelsea are negotiating with Ajax to reduce their asking price of €40million (£34.8m/$46.7m). The Blues were linked with a move for the defender since the start of July. Hato was also wanted by Arsenal in January 2024, however, the youngster later penned a new five-year contract with the club.
Hato made his senior debut for Ajax in 2023 and has appeared in 111 matches across all competitions. In the 2024-25 campaign, the teenager played mostly in the left-back position, although he is also capable of playing as a central defender.
The Club World Cup winners will play two friendly matches against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan at home, before kicking off the new season against Crystal Palace on August 17.