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Liverpool have made some huge moves this summer.
They’ve already spent over £260 million in this window, more than any other Premier League club so far.
Florian Wirtz came in for £100 million.
Hugo Ekitike followed for £69 million.
Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong cost another £70 million combined.
The club is also working on a record bid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
He’s made it clear he wants Anfield, even rejecting a huge offer from Al-Hilal worth £600,000 per week.
Liverpool are building from a position of strength.
They’re Premier League champions, and they’re trying to stay there.
But all this movement up front seems to have distracted from a key defensive target.
Earlier in the summer, Liverpool held direct talks with one of Europe’s top young defenders.
He’s just 19 but already a full international, with over 30 league games under his belt for his former club.
At one point, he even visited Anfield.
Fans thought a deal might be close.
But while Liverpool focused on attackers, Chelsea moved quietly in the background.
Now, the defender won’t be wearing red next season.
According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign 19-year-old Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato.
The initial fee is £35.5 million, with add-ons included.
Ajax had originally valued him at £52 million, but a middle ground was reached.
Sky Sports confirmed that Hato was set to fly into London for a medical and to finalize a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
Now, an X post from reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the defender has completed his medical and signed a seven year deal at Chelsea.
Chelsea have chased Hato hard.
The club values his versatility – he can also cover at left-back, where Marc Cucurella played nearly 70 matches last season.
With Chelsea’s current model of signing young, high-upside players on low base wages, Hato fits perfectly.
The player made his own stance clear.
He informed Ajax of his “clear desire” to join Chelsea, and was left out of their squad for the Como Cup final and other recent friendlies to avoid any risk of injury before the move.
Hato, meanwhile, looks set to become Chelsea’s seventh summer signing under Enzo Maresca.
Another top talent slips past Anfield — this time, to a direct rival.
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