It looks like it is going to be a tricky summer for Liverpool, with numerous positions requiring strengthening before the 2025-2026 campaign gets underway. One of the key areas that the Reds are looking to strengthen is centre-back, with Ajax’s 19-year-old talent Jorrel Hato being a name that is being linked with a move to Anfield.
Whether that is because the club are actually interested or journalists are putting two and two together over Arne Slot’s Dutch links and deciding that it is a likely move remains to be seen, but it is certainly something supporters are worried about.
A Talented Young Player
Jorrel Hato was born on the seventh of March 2006 in Rotterdam, working with the Sparta Rotterdam Academy as a youngster before being signed to Ajax in 2018. He signed his first professional contract with de Godenzonen in the March of 2022, which was designed to keep him at the club until this summer.
He captained the club’s Under-19s side in the UEFA Youth League, then played for the Jong Ajax side in the Eerste Divisie on the fourth of November when he came on as a sub in a game against FC Dordrecht. His senior debut came on the 11th of January 2023 in a KNVB Cup match.
@afcajaxJorrel Hato in minute 105. Unreal 😤 ♬ Dead To Me (feat. Lox Chatterbox) (Original Mix) – Fraxo & Lox Chatterbox & Whales
His debut in the Eredivisie came on the fifth of February when he was brought on as a substitute in a game against SC Cambuur. That made him the club’s third-youngest player ever behind Clarence Seedorf and a player who is now on Liverpool’s books, Ryan Gravenberch.
In the months that followed, the youngster made more and more appearances, quickly developing a reputation as one of the strongest defenders from the Ajax Academy, winning the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy as the most talented player to emerge into the first team. He became one of the club’s star players, even being named the vice-captain.
A Perfect Fit for Liverpool?
It didn’t take long before most of the biggest clubs in Europe began to circle around Hato, being keen to sign him because of his obvious abilities. Liverpool now appear to have emerged as a keen contender for his signature, with many considering him to be the perfect candidate for the Reds on account of the fact that they need to strengthen at left-back and also prepare for the eventual departure of Virgil van Dijk.
Hato is a left-sided defender and has also played numerous games at left-back, which means that he can cover for Andy Robertson in that slot moving forward.
If I was in charge of Liverpool transfers, I would sign both Jorrel Hato and Dean Huijsen in the summer. Hato can play LB and LCB, Huijsen can play both centre-back roles. Both have world-class potential and total cost would be under £100m.
#LFC
— JUHO🫡 (@juhorasanen.bsky.social) February 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
On top of that, Hato can also be groomed to become the club’s long-term replacement for van Dijk. Although the Dutchman signed a new contract last month, which will keep him at Anfield for at least another two seasons, he turns 34 in June and won’t be able to keep playing forever.
The Merseyside club knows that this is a summer in which they can make several moves and work to attract the best in the business, on account of the fact that they won the Premier League title with four games to go. There is obvious interest from them in Hato’s signature, but whether a move will be made remains to be seen.
Other Clubs Want Him Too
Ajax are all but resigned to the fact that they are likely to lose Hato this summer, even though the player is contracted until 2028. Part of the reasoning behind the likelihood of losing him is that there are numerous different clubs interested in obtaining his signature.
Although he is Dutch and proud to play for his boyhood club, the ones that are looking to sign him are amongst some of the biggest names in the sport. Arsenal are another of the clubs rumoured to be looking at him, not least of all because of the fact that he is likely to be available for around £40 million, which is a snip for a player of his ability.
Chelsea are another Premier League side that has got a potential move for the centre-back in their sights, which may depend on their ability to get a place in the Champions League for next season. One of the main reasons why many people think that Liverpool might be the most likely to sign him is the fact that van Dijk is apparently a big fan of his compatriot and the ability to work with the Netherlands captain before eventually replacing him might well be too good an opportunity for Hato to resist.
Given the fact that the Reds are also interested in another Dutch defender in Dean Huijsen, as well as the links to other clubs, Hato’s destination isn’t yet decided.