Finding a young, versatile, and composed defender on the market is rare — and even rarer when the player is already a full international at 19. But that’s exactly what Jorrel Hato represents. The Ajax wonderkid has caught the attention of Europe’s elite, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, and now frontrunners Arsenal.
Real Madrid’s Interest in Hato
Real Madrid had added Hato to their shortlist of top young talents to monitor this summer. The Dutch international stood out during the UEFA Nations League, even holding his own against Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.
At just 19, Hato has proven capable of playing both as a centre-back and a left-back, a quality Real Madrid find valuable with ongoing doubts in that area. Some insiders see him as a long-term successor to David Alaba, given his composure, positioning, and ability with the ball.
Arsenal Take the Lead
Despite the interest from Spain, it seems Premier League side Arsenal are leading the race. As reported by Caught Offside, the Gunners have opened negotiations, held talks with his agents, and made a six-year contract offer.
Other Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle United are also tracking the situation, but Chelsea are believed to be Madrid’s main rivals in this battle. Still, Arsenal’s proactive stance has put them in pole position for the €50 million-rated talent.
Will Real Madrid Make a Move?
After already investing €60 million in Dean Huijsen, Real Madrid are unlikely to go all-in for another central defender this summer unless there’s a major departure — such as David Alaba or Antonio Rudiger.
That said, if the club views Hato primarily as a left-back, and if the Álvaro Carreras deal collapses, they could consider revisiting the option. For now, it looks like Los Blancos may sit this one out — unless Arsenal’s negotiations falter.
MadridistasZone view:
Hato is a special kind of player — calm under pressure, positionally intelligent, and versatile. I’d love to see him at Real Madrid, but I understand the timing may not be ideal given the signing of Huijsen and the likely arrival of Álvaro Carreras. Arsenal are being aggressive in the market, and if Madrid wait too long, this gem could be off the table.