Jorrel Hato linked with a high-profile transfer to Chelsea's rivals

Dylan ter Laak

• 23 Feb 2026 09:30 CST
• 2 min read

News

Manchester United have been told to go out and buy Chelsea misfit Jorrel Hato, who is struggling for game time at Stamford Bridge.

Hato made a bold switch to the Premier League at a young age last summer when he moved to Chelsea, but the versatile defender has yet to make his mark.

According to Rene Meulensteen, who was speaking to Metro, Man Utd should take advantage of this confusion by trying to sign the youngster.

Chelsea paid a whopping €44.2 million for the 19-year-old Hato last summer. The defender quickly urged Ajax to leave when it became clear the English club wanted to pursue his arrival.

Despite initially being far apart between the asking price and the offered transfer fee, Ajax and Chelsea eventually reached an agreement. Hato left and signed a contract in London until mid-2032.

Although the youngster is now playing in one of the biggest leagues, he can't yet be described as a major success. Hato hasn't yet managed to secure a starting spot and is mainly making substitute appearances. In the Champions League, Hato had a very disappointing performance away at Qarabag.

Jorrel Hato: Already set to leave Chelsea

Former Man Utd assistant manager Meulensteen also sees the deal as being one that has put Hato in trouble.

"It's very disappointing for Jorrel Hato, because he was truly one of the standouts at Ajax," he told Metro . "He was captain at a very young age, which speaks volumes about the confidence in his personality and leadership qualities. Then you have a club like Chelsea that picks up players from everywhere. That doesn't mean they'll fit in with how the team plays. He is one of those players who hasn't found his groove yet."

According to Meulensteen, a move to another Premier League club would make sense.

"If I were a Premier League club, including Manchester United, and he's a viable option or will become one, I would definitely take him. He's still very young and has a lot of potential," Meulensteen is quoted as saying.

Is a transfer for Jorrel Hato feasible?

Whether Chelsea will be willing to cooperate on a transfer for Jorrel Hato next summer is currently unknown. However, it's also highly likely that interested clubs will have to dig deep for the defender's arrival, as he's under contract until mid-2032. According to the FootballTransfers algorithm, Hato currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €56 million, but it's not inconceivable that Chelsea will demand more.