Arsenal must pay €100 million to sign defensive target Jorrel Hato from Ajax, with Liverpool also keen on the defender.
According to Soccernews, Arsenal and Liverpool could be forced to pay up for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is rated at a whopping €100 million by the faltering Dutch giants.
Hato, who came through the Ajax academy before making his senior debut in January 2023, is a centre-back by trade who can also play as a left-back.
He forced his way into Ajax’s starting XI in the second half of last season, and has proven to be integral for Ajax this term, having played in every single one of their 37 matches across all competitions.
Despite his tender age, the left-footed centre-half has even captained Ajax in both the Eredivisie and Europa League. Hato is the latest exciting young talent to impress at Ajax, having established himself as one of the best U21 defenders in Europe.
Therefore, it is no surprise major Premier League clubs are taking a look at the teenager. Arsenal and Liverpool have been named as the main English sides chasing his signature.
Both sides are pushing strongly for the Premier League title and have catapulted their way to the top of the league standings, but their impressive form doesn’t stop them from looking to the future.
Jorrel Hato set to cost Arsenal, Liverpool €100 million
Arsenal, for one, have scouted talented young Ajax defender Jorel Hato multiple times as they look to bolster the left-side of the back-four, which has been lacking strength in depth. The youngster is currently set to sign a new contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The new deal will be valid until June 2028, with no release clause included. But it seems that the contract will simply protect Hato’s transfer value rather than keep him in Amsterdam for the next four years.
Although the 18-year-old stopper is not expected to change clubs this summer, this could change in the 2025 summer window.
Of course, all the cards are in Ajax’s deck, and they could be demanding as much as €100 million for their star defender, more than the record €90 million fee paid by Manchester City to acquire Josko Gvardiol’s services from RB Leipzig.
Should it come down to a straight battle between Arsenal and Liverpool, it will be interesting to see which way the Dutch international leans and who’s willing to go big on him.
