- Teenager defender signed from Ajax
- Could provide cover for injury Colwill
- Another snub for England star Chilwell
As the Blues continue to spend big, a further £38 million ($51m) has been invested in versatile Dutch defender Hato. He has arrived from Eredivisie giants Ajax and slots straight into Enzo Maresca’s plans at Stamford Bridge.
The expectation was that Hato would provide left-back cover for Marc Cucurella, but an unfortunate ACL injury suffered by Levi Colwill means that the 19-year-old Netherlands international could line up at centre-half.
Hato, who is poised to make his Blues bow in a friendly date with Bayer Leverkusen, has said of taking on a new challenge in England: “I’m very excited and so happy to be here. I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I’m very happy.”
It has been revealed that Hato will be inheriting the No.21 jersey at Chelsea. That shirt has previously been donned by the likes of Salomon Kalou, Nemanja Matic, Ryan Bertrand, Jody Morris and Hernan Crespo.
England international Chilwell was the last man to fill 21 in Chelsea’s plans, but he is one of nine players to have been left off the Blues’ squad list – as they sit in the so-called ‘bomb squad’ – and is expected to move on after spending time on loan at Crystal Palace last season.
