Ajax has one of the best youth academies in world football, as they seem to have an almost non-stop production line of players coming through the ranks to star for the club’s first team.
When the player impresses at the Dutch club, they inevitably earn interest from elsewhere. In many cases, the player is sold for a hefty fee, and the money is used to keep the club in a healthy financial state.
Hato could be the next academy graduate to leave
One player who has graduated from the club’s youth teams to the first team is highly talented defender Jorrel Hato. At 19 years of age, Hato is considered to be one of the hottest prospects in the European game. He actually started his youth career with Sparta Rotterdam but moved to the Dutch capital in 2018.
The fact that he broke into the Ajax first team at just 16 illustrates the depth of his ability. Hato didn’t just break into the team. He has become a regular starter in the last few years, making 103 starts in all competitions for the Dutch giants.
The Rotterdam-born defender has also proven his versatility while in the Ajax team playing as both a left-back and a centre-back in his fledgling career with the Amsterdam giants.
What are Hato’s qualities?
Apart from his versatility, Hato is very much a modern defender in the fact that he mixes technical and physical parts of the game to form what is close to the complete package of a defender.
He is strong in the tackle. Hato is also calm on the ball, which means he can also play out from the back. Playing as both a full-back and a centre-back has helped him to develop different facets of his game.
One of his biggest assets at 19 is his maturity, as he plays like a player who is a seasoned professional. Playing regular first-team football at such a young age has played a key role in his development as a player. However, Ajax has a reputation for giving youngsters a chance to prove themselves. The adage of ‘If you are good enough, you are old enough’ applies well to the club from the Dutch capital.
Where could Hato move, and when?
As is the custom during international breaks, the transfer rumour mill has been in follow grind. Several rumours from various media outlets have emerged linking Hato with a move to the Premier League.
It is a well-trodden path from Ajax to the Premier League over the years. English clubs are, of course, amongst the richest in the world, so they have the finances to sign young, promising Dutch players.
The likes of Davy Klaassen and Donny van de Beek are just a few of the young players who have moved from the Amsterdam club to the Premier League in the last decade, even if the moves didn’t exactly work out that well.
Hato has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. All three clubs would have reasons to make a move for the young defender. With speculation over the future of their own Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, it is not surprising that Hato is being linked with Liverpool.
However, reportedly, the English clubs would have to compete with Spanish giants Real Madrid for the defender’s signature.
Could Hato leave this summer?
Ajax won’t want to lose Hato this summer, as he has played a crucial role in the team’s resurgence this season, not only in his defensive play but by scoring two goals and producing six assists.
However, like with most talented young Ajax players, it is almost inevitable that the defender will leave at some point. It now seems just a matter of time until Hato joins that band.
If Hato does leave the Amsterdam club, no doubt they will receive a decent fee and reinvest it into making the team strong again. For now, everybody connected with Ajax can enjoy what Hato brings to the team. Hopefully, if he does leave this summer, he leaves having collected a couple of trophy-winning medals.
Will Jorrel Hato leave Ajax in the summer of 2025?