Former Premier League defender Patrick van Aanholt has spoken glowingly about Chelsea’s young Dutch star Jorrel Hato, highlighting the 20-year-old’s impressive adaptation to English football and his emergence as a key player in the Blues’ squad.32
Van Aanholt, who enjoyed a successful career in the Premier League with clubs including Chelsea, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace, and who himself transitioned from the Eredivisie, offered personal insight into Hato’s progress this season. The experienced left-back revealed he had advised Hato ahead of the campaign on the challenges of Premier League football.30
“I told him at the start of the season: You’re going to have to get used to the Premier League,” van Aanholt said. “He got his matches, ended up on the bench, and now, after the winter break, I don’t know what he did. He has developed to such an extent that he has played his way into the starting lineup. I think that a fit Hato is one of the better left-backs out there.”31
Hato, who joined Chelsea from Ajax in August 2025 for an initial fee of around £35.5 million on a seven-year deal, has primarily featured at left-back this season while also proving versatile as a centre-back. The Rotterdam-born defender made his Premier League debut shortly after arriving and has steadily earned more starts, particularly in recent months, showcasing his composure on the ball, defensive solidity, and ability to contribute in attack.10
Van Aanholt’s comments come as Hato continues to establish himself among Chelsea’s defensive options, providing competition and cover for Marc Cucurella and adding depth to a squad competing on multiple fronts. The young international has also represented the Netherlands senior team, building on his rapid rise from Ajax’s academy, where he captained the side as a teenager.17
The former Dutch international van Aanholt, now playing for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie, has maintained connections within the Dutch football community and spoke to Hato before his big move to Stamford Bridge. His endorsement underscores the high regard in which the versatile 20-year-old is held.33