Hato's signing is expected to provide competition and backup for left-back Marc Cucurella, who played more minutes and games than any other Chelsea player in the 2024/25 season. Cucurella's ability to get forward and add an extra element to Chelsea's attack has made him a key player, and Hato's challenge will be to dislodge him and claim the left-back spot as his own.
Hato's impressive statistics, including a tackle success rate of 66.7%, suggest that he is up for the challenge. His passing range is also noteworthy, with a 90.3% pass completion rate that is even better than Chelsea's best passer, Moises Caicedo.
Hato's playing style is characterized by his bravery and willingness to take on opponents, which is reflected in his quote: "If you play at the Ajax academy, you always get that bravery the coaches tell you to play with... It's one of my qualities to dribble past players and create a chance."
At just 17 years and 282 days old, Hato became the youngest captain in Ajax's history in December 2023. This achievement highlights his technical abilities and his willingness to take on responsibility, both on and off the pitch.
Hato has already agreed terms with Chelsea, and a £40m deal is reportedly being finalized. This would take Chelsea's transfer spend this summer to over £250m, a significant investment in the team's future.
The signing of Hato is expected to help Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, build a deeper squad that can continue to perform at a high level. With such quality additions being made, there's every reason to think that Chelsea could become a threat in each competition they take part in during the 2025/26 season.