Exclusive: Arsenal ready to let £17.5m star leave in summer, risk missing out on first choice replacement

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands Ajax are hopeful that defensive starlet Jorrel Hato will sign a new long-term deal and pledge his future to them when he turns 18 next month.

Jorrel Hato has been one of the breakout stars for Ajax this campaign, despite the Dutch side struggling for consistency in the Eredivisie this season.

Hato was previously at Feyenoord’s academy set up but he slipped through the net of the Dutch giants and ended up signing for Sparta Rotterdam.

In 2018, Hato moved to Ajax’s youth academy at just 12 years of age and he is now impressing and turning heads in the first team, which has naturally led to interest from other leading sides with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal one of these.

Ajax keen to tie Hato down to new deal

HITC sources understands that the Dutch giants are looking to tie down Hato to a new contract, with the Gunners eager to land him. Hato has emerged as one of Europe’s top young defensive talents and Arsenal pushing hard to try and seal a deal for the 17-year-old.

However, despite interest from the English giants, Ajax are confident that Hato will resist the temptation to leave the Dutch giants after just one full season in Amsterdam.

HITC are told that Arsenal are set to allow Polish international Jakub Kiwior to leave this summer and Hato is understood to be their first choice to come in.

Kiwior joined the Gunners from Spezia for £17.5 million in January of 2023 but the Polish defender has struggled to nail down a first-team spot and a move away from North London could be on the cards.

Hato’s rise

The Dutchman, at just 17, represents the latest academy star in a long line of young players that have come through the famed academy system in Holland.

Despite the uncertainty around him, Hato has been a superb performer for the Dutch side this campaign and has drawn praise from current Ajax boss John van’t Schip.

“[He’s] special in the sense that he has been able to stand his ground for so long and that he continues to reach such a high level,” Van’t Schip said, as per Goal.

“Of course, he is still a young player, the youngest one, who still has a lot to learn, but if you look at what he brings, the way he defends, the way he can play football forward, he has a great future ahead of him.”