Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato ahead of the next season. The Gunners have maintained long-term interest in the 18-year-old, who was one of Ajax’s standout players in a challenging season. Despite his young age, Hato was handed the captain’s arm band against Almere City, becoming the club’s youngest captain ever. The youngster has already been called up to the senior Netherlands squad.
Manager Mikel Arteta was reportedly dissatisfied with his left-back options last season. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, who primarily played in that position, did not meet the club’s standards. Additionally, Kieran Tierney spent the season on loan at Real Sociedad and is likely to leave North London this summer.
Hato is versatile, capable of playing both as a center-back and a left-back. He is known for his intelligence, composure on the ball, and well-rounded technical and physical attributes. As a left-back, Hato excels in both defensive and offensive duties, making him an attractive prospect for Arsenal.
Securing Hato’s services, however, will be challenging. The defender recently signed a new contract with Ajax, keeping him in Amsterdam until 2028. This makes any potential transfer expensive, and Arsenal may need to offload players to generate the necessary funds.
Hato has expressed contentment with staying at Ajax, saying on the club’s social media, “I’ll just play for Ajax next season. I haven’t finished learning here yet. And I want to win prizes with Ajax. That was my dream when I came here.”
Despite Hato’s desire to remain at Ajax, a solid bid from Arsenal could potentially sway his decision, given the allure of playing for one of England’s top clubs. Alternatively, Arsenal might explore other targets due to Hato’s relative inexperience in professional football.
A smart approach for Arsenal could be to secure Hato on a loan deal with an option to buy. Given Ajax’s reluctant to part with one of their star players on a loan deal, the Gunners would have to offer plenty of financial incentives to complete the move. A loan move would allow Arteta to evaluate Hato’s suitability for the team before committing to a significant expenditure.
