Jorrel Hato finally got some playing time yesterday for Chelsea, but it took everything they had to secure a win against Lincoln City (ironically, a League One club). Concerns are mounting regarding the former Ajax player.
This past summer, Hato made a €44.18 million move from Ajax to Stamford Bridge. However, since his transfer, coach Enzo Maresca has hardly utilised him.
Before this game, Hato had only seen brief appearances, playing 21 minutes against West Ham United and 45 minutes against Brentford. On Tuesday night, he finally earned a starting spot. Unfortunately, against Lincoln City, the versatile defender struggled to make a positive impression, falling short of most expectations.
The 19-year-old from Rotterdam appeared notably nervous and often found himself outmatched by the Lincoln City players. Although The Blues managed a narrow 1-2 victory, there’s skepticism in England about whether Hato will be granted another starting opportunity soon. Crucially, he needs regular minutes at the top level to further his development, and that uncertainty is causing concern.
During the last international break, the former Ajax talent was also left out of the Dutch national team’s squad. Head coach Ronald Koeman commented at the time: “We have a lot of options at center-back and left-back. It’s something we discuss and ultimately make a decision on. Jorrel is a player for the future, but he’s still young and needs time to adapt. He called me regarding his decision to move to Chelsea. On Thursday afternoon, I contacted him to inform him that he wouldn’t be part of the squad.”
The reports coming from England paint a grim picture: “Hato has been performing terribly for Chelsea since his arrival. Before joining Chelsea, these players (the London club’s signings, ed.) played exceptionally well, but as soon as they joined the team, they all seemed to perform horrendously. I would like to believe he’s still going through an adjustment phase, but he needs to improve quickly. It’s just awful!”
There is already cautious speculation about a potential loan deal to a club in the Eredivisie, allowing Hato the opportunity to refine his game and return as a player truly ready for top-level competition.