Associated Press<\/p>\n
LONDON (AP) \u2014 Club World Cup champion Chelsea<\/a> has completed the signing of Netherlands<\/a> defender Jorrel Hato<\/a> from Ajax<\/a> in a deal worth a reported 37 million pounds ($49 million).<\/p>\n The 19-year-old Hato, who has been capped six times by his country, has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n He becomes the Blues\u2019 eighth signing of the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited,\u201d Hato, who can operate in central defense or at left back, told the Premier League<\/a> club\u2019s website.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea<\/a> is the best place for me to do that so I\u2019m very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Hato joined Ajax\u2019s academy from hometown club Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 and signed his first professional contract aged 16 four years later.<\/p>\n He scored four goals in 111 appearances for the Eredivisie team, with his international debut coming as a substitute in a 6-0 win against Gibraltar in November 2023.<\/p>\n