Arsenal 'still monitoring' Ajax wonderkid - Romano

Cameron Smith

10 May 2024 10:30 BST
4 min read

Fabrizio Romano, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal — © IMAGO

Arsenal remain interested in signing Ajax wonderkid Jorrel Hato, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

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Hato, 18, is regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in world football and the Gunners have been monitoring his progress in the Eredivisie for the past few months.

The teenager recently signed a new long-term contract at Ajax, until 2028, but Arsenal are still interested in pursuing a deal ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

Hato, who can play at centre-back or at left-back, became Ajax’s youngest ever captain when he wore the armband against Almere City in November, while he is also the club’s third-youngest appearance maker.

Romano posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Arsenal keep monitoring Ajax young centre back Jorrel Hato as one of the best talents in Europe in his position.

“He’s already been scouted for months and Arsenal keep following him. Hato signed [a] new deal until 2028 at Ajax recently, Arsenal remain interested.”

The Netherlands U21 international has previously been compared to Arsenal star Jurrien Timber, who joined the Gunners from Ajax last summer, while he is rated as the fourth-most promising left-back in world football by data analytics experts SciSports.

Hato has a Potential SciSkill rating of 127.8, which can only be bettered by Destiny Udogie (136.8), Alphonso Davies (134.3) and Alejandro Balde (133.4).

The 18-year-old has made 45 appearances in all competitions for Ajax so far this season, scoring once and providing three assists.

Kieran Tierney to leave Arsenal?

With Arsenal monitoring Hato, Kieran Tierney’s Gunners career could be drawing to a close. The Scotland international is currently on loan at LaLiga club Real Sociedad and he is prepared for a possible permanent exit this summer.

“There is every chance [I leave],” he told The Athletic. “Look at the squad depth in that position now.

“They have Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior. Four players can play there. So if I go back and it’s the same as before then I’m not silly, I know the chances are I’ll be leaving.

“But you never know in football. You get the rare case with William Saliba, where he came back after a couple of good seasons [out on loan] but you don’t see it too often with someone who has played for four years, left, and then come back to play again.

“Stranger things have happened. I could go back and there is a place for me. So I’m prepared for both.”