Premier League heavyweights Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing 17-year-old Dutch defensive sensation Jorrel Hato from Ajax.
According to a report by the Daily Telegraph, Jorrel Hato is the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Gunners are scouring the market for a centre-back for the two transfer windows this year. The 17-year-old Ajax defensive sensation has thus emerged as a target for the North London club.
Who is Jorrel Hato?
Jorrel Hato is a native of Rotterdam and began his youth career at his hometown club Sportclub Feyenoord before passing through the academy at Sparta Rotterdam. The Dutch defender joined Ajax in 2018 and rose through the ranks at the club in the half-decade that followed before breaking into the first-team squad last year.
The youngster made his first-team debut in January 2023 as a 16-year-old in January 2023. Since then, Hato has come leaps and bounds, becoming a mainstay at the back. The 17-year-old has turned out 40 times thus far for Ajax, chipping in with one goal and two assists.
Hato has even donned the captain’s armband for Ajax, shining bright even though the Dutch giants have fallen off a cliff this term. The teenage sensation’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of many high-profile clubs, including Liverpool. He has now emerged as a target for Arsenal.
Arsenal Join Race to Sign Jorrel Hato
Arsenal’s interest in Jorrel Hato is hardly surprising, considering Mikel Arteta wants to sign a centre-back. But a January move might not be feasible, as the North London club might not have the funds to sign a top-class centre-back. So, a deal might have to wait until the summer transfer window.
Ajax might not consider parting ways with Hato in January either, considering the battle to climb through the standings. But a summer move might be on the cards, with Jakub Kiwior facing an uncertain future at Arsenal. In addition, Arteta has shown that he is open to rotating Gabriel Magalhaes.
But with Jorrel Hato rising in stature and gaining suitors across Europe, the competition for his signature might be intense. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can beat the other clubs to the race to sign the 17-year-old Dutch defensive sensation.
