Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato.
Hato is due to arrive in London in the coming days to undergo a medical and finalise the paperwork on a long-term contract.
He was not included in Ajax’s squad for the Como Cup final on Sunday as he did not want to risk injury ahead of his move to Stamford Bridge.
The defender fits into Chelsea’s strategy of signing young developing players on low base wages on heavily incentivised contracts.
The club have been keen to sign Hato as he can also provide cover to Marc Cucurella at left-back, who played nearly 70 games last season for Chelsea and Spain.
Hato would mark the seventh new signing in the summer transfer window for Enzo Maresca, following the arrivals of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr.
