Chelsea's 19-year-old defender Jorrel Hato, who joined from Ajax for £37 million in the summer, is struggling to adapt in the Premier League with just nine appearances across all competitions. Ajax have made him their number one January target for a loan return, but FIFA regulations limiting international loans to six players are preventing the move. Chelsea must cancel an existing loan to make it possible, with midfielder Kendry Paez emerging as a candidate.
Jorrel Hato's transition to Chelsea has been challenging since his £37 million transfer from Ajax in the summer. The 19-year-old Dutch defender has featured in nine appearances across all competitions, accumulating only 167 minutes in the Premier League and starting just twice. His difficulties were highlighted in a tough Champions League match against Qarabag last month, and he missed Chelsea's recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa due to injury.
Defensive woes have plagued Chelsea this season, exacerbated by Levi Colwill's long-term knee injury sustained in training. In the loss to Villa, Benoit Badiashile's critical error underscored the team's backline vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Ajax, according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, have prioritized Hato as their top choice to bolster the left-back position in January.
However, FIFA's rules prohibit clubs from having more than six players on international loans simultaneously. Chelsea currently have six such deals in place: Mike Penders and Mamadou Sarr at Strasbourg, Kendry Paez also at Strasbourg, Nicolas Jackson at Bayern Munich with an obligation to buy, David Datro Fofana at Karagumruk, and Aaron Anselmino at Borussia Dortmund.
To facilitate Hato's loan to Ajax, Chelsea would need to terminate one of these arrangements. Options like Sarr, Penders, and Fofana—who is thriving with five goals in 12 appearances—are unlikely to be disrupted mid-season. Anselmino's absences are injury-related, not performance-based. Paez, however, has struggled at Strasbourg, starting only four of 16 Ligue 1 games despite his high rating, making him a potential recall candidate for a domestic move in the English Football League.
Chelsea's stance on allowing Hato to leave remains unclear, especially with Marc Cucurella's hamstring concern from the Villa game adding uncertainty to their defensive options. Cucurella has been ever-present in the league, and any absence could leave the Blues short at left-back if Hato departs.
