Chelsea ‘interest’ CONFIRMED as Branthwaite transfer rumour addressed

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 6 Jun 2025 08:36 CDT
• 3 min read

News

The truth behind Chelsea’s interest in Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite has been addressed, with the Blues desire to sign a centre-back reiterated.

Enzo Maresca’s side are preparing for the Champions League next season, and one of the areas that they are desperate to strengthen is their rearguard.

To that end, rumours have linked them with a potential move for England international Branthwaite, who has been a standout performer in recent seasons with Everton.

Compared

Jarrad Branthwaite

D (C)

Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite

D (C)

Everton

VS

Jorrel Hato

D (L)

Ajax

Jorrel Hato

D (L)

Ajax

€32.1M	ETV	€46.2M
€28.9M - €35.3M	ETV Range	€41.6M - €50.8M
22 years old (27 Jun, 2002)	Age	19 years old (07 Mar, 2006)
England	Nationality	Netherlands

Transfer news expert Ben Jacobs says that the 22-year-old is a player of interest to the Stamford Bridge outfit, but it is not a transfer that is likely to go ahead.

Instead, Chelsea are looking to Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato as a potential summer signing. The Dutchman has previously been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, but now it’s the Blues leading the way for the 19-year-old.

Taking to X, Jacobs reports: “Jorrel Hato remains a player of interest to Chelsea. Appeal is in his ability to play left-back and centre-back.”

Jorrel Hato: Chelsea investing for the future

Although Hato is currently seen by data analytics firm SciSports as a weaker player than Branthwaite, the teenager is expected to develop into a superior defender in the next couple of years.

Hato is ranked by the experts as the centre-back with the second-highest ceiling among players in that position aged 23 or under. Only Pau Cubarsi outstrips him in this capacity.

Chelsea also have another highly promising youngster in the form of Levi Colwill in their ranks, yet the young Dutchman is also expected to exceed the level of the former Brighton loanee, who has become a regular under Maresca.

Branthwaite is also seen as a likely elite centre-back in the future but Hato clearly has a superior future.

Chelsea have shown a willingness to be patient by signing young talent on long-term contracts and it appears that Hato may well be the next player to add to that list.

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