Chelsea closes the Jorrel Hato deal.
An agreement between the clubs still has to be reached, but is approaching, with a compromise that is expected in the coming days with a price of more than € 40 million (£ 34.8 million; $ 46.7 million).
Personal conditions are already present for the 19-year-old Dutch international defender.
Chelsea opened discussions with Ajax earlier this month about a move for Hato. Arsenal had previously identified Hato as a defensive target in January 2024, before signing a new five -year contract with Ajax last summer.
Hato, who made 111 first team performances for Ajax and has the side of the side, mainly played as a left back in 2024-25 but also played as a center-back.
Six times at Senior International level closed by the Netherlands, he joined Ajax's Academy in 2018 from Sparta Rotterdam and is a fixture in the first team since he made debut in January 2023.
Chelsea has already signed Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens this summer, in addition to the arrivals of players on existing similarities, including Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke and Djordje Petrovic are among the players who have permanently left Stamford Bridge this month.
Hato is one of the most popular defensive prospects in Europe, which has regularly played for Ajax in the last two seasons.
Graduated from the Ajax Academy, he is technically gifted and confident in possession. He is used to being in a ball-dominant side and he is not afraid to be adventurous with the ball at his feet, both by dribbling or his passing reach. For the context, only PSV Eindhoven's Richy Ledezma placed a better completion rate than Hato's 89 percent under Eredivisie Full-Backs last season.
At such a young age he is still growing in his body and that will only benefit him defensively, an area in which he is good, but has room to improve is a solid one-on-one defender, reads the game well but does not dominate lightly.