Credit: Imago / Hasan Karim - Breaking Media

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Fri 8 August 2025 11:11, UK

Chelsea are tracking highly-rated Ajax youngster Aaron Bouwman this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

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Scouts from Stamford Bridge watched the 17-year-old in the recent pre-season Como Cup, where he scored a spectacular goal in a 5-1 win against Celtic on Thursday, 24 July.

The defender is regarded as the next top prospect to emerge from Ajax’s famed academy, and Chelsea are keen to be at the head of the queue for the Netherlands Under-18s international.

Chelsea have already signed Jorrel Hato from Ajax this summer, and they are now expected to keep tabs on Bauwman’s progress as they weigh up a move for the central defender.

While the Blues’ defence is stacked to the rafters, even sending Mamadou Sarr on loan to Strasbourg for the 2025/26 season, a long-term injury to Levi Colwill is a major blow this summer.

Enzo Maresca has built his early success on a very young squad, trusting the likes of Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Moises Caicedo to lead by example, making them appear a brilliant destination for youngsters.

Football Insider understands that Chelsea must increase their valuation of Alejandro Garnacho by £10million if they are to agree a deal with Man United, and he would only add further youth to the squad.

Levi Colwill will be sidelined for months.

(Credit Imago)

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Chelsea head into the new campaign off the back of a top-five Premier League finish, the Europa Conference League title, and beating PSG to the Club World Cup trophy in America.

Maresca was under serious pressure at Chelsea for much of last season, with supporters frustrated by the manager’s playing style, but the Italian appears to have changed his fortunes around.

Chelsea’s Club World Cup record (Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media)

Of course, the injury to Colwill will be a major loss just days before the season starts, but with Wesley Fofana returning from injury, a deal for Bouwman could be the icing on the cake for the Blues.

With just weeks of the summer transfer window remaining, there is plenty of business still left to be done, and Maresca cannot head into the new campaign with so many players at his disposal.

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