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New York Times
30-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Chelsea want Jorrel Hato – the teenager with experience beyond his years
Last month, Football Benchmark unveiled its Golden Boy Index in partnership with Tuttosport, ranking the top 100 young footballers eligible for the coveted annual award. Much of it reads like a list of players that Chelsea either have already signed, have considered acquiring or would like to buy. They are the most heavily represented club on the list with seven players (eight if you include Geovany Quenda, who joins from Sporting CP in the summer of 2026). Other names in the upper reaches reported by The Athletic to be under consideration for transfers to Stamford Bridge over the last 12 months include Dean Huijsen, Ethan Nwaneri, Malick Fofana and Kobbie Mainoo. Advertisement Then there is Jorrel Hato, the 11th-ranked player and fourth-ranked defender on the list, who looks like he will become the next golden teenager to sign for the newly crowned world champions. Chelsea are on the verge of agreeing a deal with Ajax worth in excess of €40million (£34.8m; $46.7m). It is no surprise that Hato ranks so highly on the Football Benchmark list, which factors playing time as well as sporting performance and club strength into its ranking algorithm. He has just finished his second season as a regular starter for Ajax, and has well over 100 professional club appearances — and about 9,000 minutes played — to his name despite only turning 19 in March. Even in a sport which routinely elevates young men to stardom before adulthood, Hato's rise has been startlingly quick. He became the third youngest Eredivisie debutant in Ajax's history when he came on as a substitute against Cambuur in February 2023, and the youngest player ever to start as captain for the club in a European match when he wore the armband in a Europa League match against AEK Athens the following December. He was 17 years and 282 days old. The secret to the speed of Hato's breakthrough is not just physical, though his pace and strength stand out on the pitch. Nor is it only technical, though his comfort level on the ball is everything that you would expect from an Ajax product. Nor is it simply his personality, though he matured from a self-confessed troublemaker in school into a quiet leader at academy level. 'In my eyes, it's everything,' former Ajax captain and coach Frank de Boer said of Hato in an interview as part of a club video feature on the 19-year-old released last month. 'He's fast, he's strong, a good height, not too tall for a central defender, overall good technique, pretty complete. A true Ajax player.' Hato's rounded skill set has equipped him to perform impressively at left-back and centre-back, and in a range of roles that shift with the circumstances of the game and the needs of his team. According to SkillCorner, Hato has played 51 per cent of his Eredivisie minutes for Ajax since the start of 2022-23 at left-back and 46 per cent at centre-back, with the remaining three per cent being spent in more advanced areas on the left side of the pitch. His pass start locations, mapped in the graphic below, underline that he is equally comfortable building out from the back in possession and pushing on into the middle third of the pitch: In his first full season for Ajax, he was mainly utilised as a ball-carrying centre-back, capable of bringing the ball out of defence and starting progressive moves. Last season, Francesco Farioli deployed him most often as a left-back who inverted into midfield in possession, though he has also flashed the ability to overlap into crossing positions and supply accurate deliveries. Advertisement 'He has a positive appearance (on the pitch), like 'Bring it on, I'll do my thing',' De Boer added in the video. 'He dribbles past people at the right moment. Ajax should always be able to bring on youth players with bravery. In my eyes, he is a perfect example.' Hato's bravery is also reflected in his progressive passing; as the breakdown of his most common line-breaking passes below illustrates, he is capable of punching the ball forward through central areas as well as simply advancing the play down the left flank: Hato's openness to play in several different defensive positions matters just as much as his ability to do so for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who does not view footballers in narrow specialist terms. 'If there is a player who just wants to play in just one position, they are going to struggle,' he said in a press conference in January. 'They have to adapt, they have to learn to play in different positions, which is a good thing for the team.' Maresca's comments were a pointed message to Renato Veiga, whose January departure on loan to Juventus to play more at centre-back created a gap on the left of Chelsea's defence behind Marc Cucurella. Despite Malo Gusto and Reece James at times shifting across to deputise for him, the Spaniard led the entire first-team squad in minutes played across all competitions in 2024-25 and clocked up around 5,000 minutes for club and country. Veiga's expected sale this summer underlines the need for a longer-term alternative to Cucurella. Hato has a very different physical profile — standing 6ft (182cm) tall, he is far less likely to be targeted with a barrage of opposition high balls — but more than a few of the same qualities, including a rare ability to find the net in the final third. Chelsea sources, kept anonymous to protect relationships, say they want to give Maresca the ability to rotate across all positions as he balances Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup commitments this season. Those sources at the club state that there is a belief that the eight-year age gap between Cucurella and Hato creates the potential for a perfect mentor/mentee relationship at left-back. There are worse role models for the young Dutchman than a player who rebounded from being booed by his own supporters early in his Stamford Bridge career to blossom into a key player and a cult hero for many fans. Advertisement No one would expect Hato to come to Chelsea and immediately supplant Cucurella in Maresca's strongest XI, but he has done everything in his journey to this point more quickly than expected. In football terms, he is older than most of his peers, and better, too.
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Estevao Willian is Chelsea's next superstar – and plays against them tonight
The strategy is made possible by the new work permit rules agreed with the Football Association that widen the scope, the GBE – the governing body endorsement – which lays out a detailed formula for qualification updated every year. As well as South America, they have focused on Portugal, France and England as the key teenage recruitment centres. From Sporting Lisbon, they have signed the winger Geovany Quenda, 18, and also midfielder Dario Essugo, 20 – both Portugal junior internationals. Mathis Amougou, 19, a France junior international, came from St Etienne in February, made his first-team debut that month and will go to Strasbourg on loan. The 6ft 7in Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, 19, signed from Genk last summer, now has a first-team squad number. There are more predominantly English prospects coming into the Cobham academy. The plan is that these signings – all on long-term contracts – will one day provide a steady flow of first-team-ready players, without the need to pay the kind of fees that established 20-somethings can command. As to whether it works, time will tell. Certainly not all will make the grade and so the wheel turns again. Another Brazilian, Angelo Gabriel was sold to Al-Nassr in Saudi last year having never played for Chelsea. Deivid Washington is back at Santos on loan after three first team appearances and is unlikely to make a fourth. Separate to Chelsea, the Strasbourg academy graduate Habib Diarra, a 21-year-old Senegalese midfielder, has been sold to Sunderland for £30 million. Diarra predated BlueCo's Strasbourg acquisition but even so, these are the kind of deals that fund the re-investment. The new Chelsea way is a portfolio of footballer investments. A pool of players that is vast and can be traded relatively easily. Under Roman Abramovich, the club invested significantly in non-British academy talent – then itself a major departure from the norm – but rarely touched the core of first-teamers who prospered under a succession of managers. This feels different. Chelsea are also defined by what they do not do: they do not sign established stars in their mid to late 20s. That is reflected in their more senior acquisitions: Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and also Jamie Gittens – likely to be announced post Club World Cup. Estevao will be considered a similar signing in terms of first-team status, if not experience. The club are playing down expectations in his first season but of course, were he to be an immediate success that would do the perception of their strategy no harm. Either way, the plan is here to stay.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Barcelona and Bayern legend's son, 20, has two-minute nightmare at U21 Euros and leaves pitch with head in hands
A BARCELONA and Bayern Munich legend's son had a nightmare couple of minutes at the Under-21 Euros. Ruben van Bommel - son of Mark - started for Holland in their quarter-final clash with Portugal. 5 5 5 But he was sent off before the midway point of the first half in Slovakia. Van Bommel Jr, 20, picked up his first yellow card for a shove on 19 minutes. And in the 21st, he made a cynical tackle on Chelsea new-boy Geovany Quenda as the teenage winger tried to launch a counter attack. That left Georgian referee Goga Kikacheishvili with a decision to make. And he brandished a second yellow to send Van Bommel for an early bath. The AZ youngster was evidently gutted. He trudged off the pitch heartbroken with his head buried in his hands and covered by his shirt. The 6ft 3ins star had a brief conversation with a member of the Dutch coaching staff before heading down the tunnel. His captain Devyne Rensch remonstrated with the official but his protests came to nothing and Holland had to play three-quarters of the quarter-final with ten men. Van Bommel - whose dad Mark was one of eight Dutchmen booked in the 2010 World Cup final - must have feared he had ruined his country's chances of European glory. England u21s clash with Germany SUSPENDED as stadium plunged into semi-darkness and players taken off pitch Especially when, just ten minutes after the red card, Rensch conceded a penalty. But Quenda stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way... only to see his spot-kick cannon off the post and away. The Dutch defence - featuring Ian Maatsen - stood firm for the remainder of the tie before substitute Ernest Poku grabbed a dramatic late winner for Holland to send them into the semis. 5 5
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Barcelona and Bayern legend's son, 20, has two-minute nightmare at U21 Euros and leaves pitch with head in hands
A BARCELONA and Bayern Munich legend's son had a nightmare couple of minutes at the Under-21 Euros. Ruben van Bommel - son of Mark - started for Holland in their quarter-final clash with Portugal. 5 Ruben van Bommel was sent off in Holland's Euro U21s quarter-final Credit: Getty 5 The son of Mark van Bommel picked up two yellows within two minutes Credit: Getty 5 He buried his face in his shirt as he trudged off Credit: Getty But he was sent off before the midway point of the first half in Slovakia. Van Bommel Jr, 20, picked up his first yellow card for a shove on 19 minutes. And in the 21st, he made a cynical tackle on Chelsea new-boy Geovany Quenda as the teenage winger tried to launch a counter attack. That left Georgian referee Goga Kikacheishvili with a decision to make. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL And he brandished a second yellow to send Van Bommel for an early bath. The AZ youngster was evidently gutted. He trudged off the pitch heartbroken with his head buried in his hands and covered by his shirt. The 6ft 3ins star had a brief conversation with a member of the Dutch coaching staff before heading down the tunnel. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS His captain Devyne Rensch remonstrated with the official but his protests came to nothing and England u21s clash with Germany SUSPENDED as stadium plunged into semi-darkness and players taken off pitch Especially when, just ten minutes after the red card, Rensch conceded a penalty. But The Dutch defence - featuring Ian Maatsen - stood firm for the remainder of the tie before substitute Ernest Poku grabbed a dramatic late winner for Holland to send them into the semis. 5 Geovany Quenda struck his penalty against the post Credit: Getty 5 Ernest Poku grabbed a dramatic late winner Credit: Getty
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Five players who impressed in the group stage
The Under-21 European Championship invariably showcases Europe's best up-and-coming talent. Over the past 25 years, players including Andrea Pirlo, Petr Cech, Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, Juan Mata, Thiago and Fabian Ruiz have won player of the tournament. Anthony Gordon was the player of the tournament in the 2023 edition as England were crowned champions, but that victory also provided momentum for a certain Cole Palmer, who was then at Manchester City. This year's tournament is taking place in Slovakia and The Athletic has taken a look at five players who stood out in the group stage. The youngest player at the tournament, the 17-year-old has already signed for Chelsea from Sporting CP. He will spend the 2025-26 season at Chelsea and staff from the Premier League side have been in Slovakia to watch his progress. Quenda ended the group stages with three goals and two assists, showing a variety that would serve him well in any league. A left-footed winger, who broke into Sporting's first team as a wing-back, two of Quenda's three goals were scored with his right foot. The power on one of these finishes against Poland was particularly impressive after he faked a shot with his left foot, while his quick finish against Georgia showed his technique in tight spaces. Geovany Quenda magic 🪄🇵🇹#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 14, 2025 That willingness to use his weaker foot has also been evident, even when he doesn't score. His assists have demonstrated a rare maturity. Rather than engaging defenders with dribbling, Quenda has both threaded and clipped passes in behind from deeper/wider areas for onrushing team-mates to finish. The forward has had multiple senior Portugal call-ups already, but he joined the under-21s for this tournament with the aim of becoming the nation's first Under-21 Euro winners. At 17, he helped Sporting win the league and cup double and understands that team honours are necessary to fulfil the expectations already being made of him. As well as being able to play off both flanks, last season he also made a few appearances as a No 10 for Sporting, but for Portugal he has always operated out wide. One of the older players at the tournament at 23, Woltemade has impressed. The Stuttgart forward, who has interest from multiple London-based Premier League clubs, hit a hat-trick against Slovenia, then added another goal and two assists against the Czech Republic. He was not risked in the final group game against England as head coach Antonio Di Salvo said he was feeling the effects of a knock, but Germany made 11 changes to their line-up anyway. Standing at 6ft 6in (198cm), Woltemade's game is not solely about height. One of his four group stage goals was a header, but his first two came from his more detached role as a second striker. Stuttgart benefited from that heavily last season, with the forward scoring 17 goals in all competitions, as he can often ghost into dangerous areas unmarked, despite his height. Nick Woltemade last time out ⚽️⚽️⚽️#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 15, 2025 He has also displayed his technical ability in Slovakia, especially in the 4-2 win against the Czech Republic. Receiving the ball in deeper areas, he dribbled through bodies and spread play equally well. Importantly, he appears to be in control of most of the situations he finds himself in, which also leads to more skilful touches to create chances for team-mates. Made by Woltemade, finished by Nebel 🇩🇪#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 16, 2025 Even so, he still has to deliver in front of goal himself, and that is what he has done. Interestingly, Woltemade featured for Germany's senior team in their Nations League fixtures against Portugal and France earlier this month. That was down to manager Julian Nagelsmann, who wanted to reward Woltemade for his performances last season and to pit him against seasoned European defenders. He performed better against France in a deeper role, which should give those scouting him plenty of encouragement ahead of next season. While he may not have any goals or assists to his name so far, Nottingham Forest's Anderson has been England's standout player in the group stages. The 22-year-old was booked 15 seconds into the opening group game against the Czech Republic, but responded with an exemplary display of defensive discipline and control in possession. Used as one of Lee Carsley's deepest midfielders in a 4-2-2-2, the onus was on him to dictate play, and he delivered. Anderson was always available to receive the ball and play forward, while being quick across the ground to stop attackers and vocal to organise those around him. Carsley reacted by saying that Anderson was playing 'like a senior pro' and that continued into the following games. England didn't score against Slovenia, but he was the source of their best chances, with passes pinged, curled and threaded in behind the back line. The communication that is a natural part of his game also continued, with his instructions to team-mates resulting in turnovers multiple times. Advertisement Anderson had represented Scotland at under-16, 17 and 21 levels but has now decided that England are his international focus. On being tasked with starting attacks from deeper areas than he does at Forest, he said: 'The manager wants me to take control of games. We've got some fantastic attackers and if we've got control, they will get a lot more chances. 'Trying to split defences is a big part of my game. It's something we might lack in football now. That's what I am trying to do, create attacks and try to catch the eye. I love watching Kevin De Bruyne. He creates things and is so good to watch. I try to get fans off their seats and will do everything for the team. I work hard all game and fight for the team.' Like others in the squad, a place in the England seniors is the aim for Anderson. To that end, Carsley pinned up a photo of the World Cup to inspire his young players ahead of this summer's tournament. Denmark were surprising pace-setters in the group stage and Osula was key to that, with three goals and two assists. The Newcastle United forward scored and assisted after being introduced from the bench in the opening match, scored a brace in the second and then assisted again in the third. He was particularly impressive in his only start of the tournament so far — the second game against the Netherlands. Trailing 1-0 to an own goal, he showed good instincts and positioning to head in the equaliser inside the six-yard box, and scored the winner with a strong finish across goal in the second half. As the game went on, his defensive contributions were also vital to Denmark holding onto their lead. Two more goals for William Osula 🇩🇰#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 16, 2025 Attaining confidence at this tournament was key for Osula. The striker joined Newcastle from Sheffield United for an initial £10milllion last summer but completed just two full matches across his 19 appearances in all competitions. The Athletic have reported that Osula's potential is recognised by the Newcastle coaching staff, but considering his level of involvement last season and with a contract that runs until 2029, he may not be a priority in Eddie Howe's squad right now. So the 21-year-old's performances in Slovakia could help showcase him as a worthwhile loanee for the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, team-mate Conrad Harder, of Sporting CP, shone in Denmark's final group game with clinical finishes off both feet. His second was created by Osula, who had drifted out to the right before finding him with a ball inside. Conrad Harder double 🔥🇩🇰#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 19, 2025 Not as regular a starter as Viktor Gyokeres, the 20-year-old nevertheless scored 13 goals in all competitions for Sporting last year. Agoume impressed in a deep midfield role for France. One of the more experienced players at the tournament, aged 23, he has just finished his first full season with Sevilla in La Liga. The midfielder was willing to show for the ball when necessary and brave enough to play forward when he had it, showing nice disguise on some of his passes. He assisted France's equaliser in their late 3-2 comeback win over Georgia with a left-footed reverse pass from just outside the box, showing great vision. He captained the side in their final group game, a 4-1 win against Poland, as they secured a place in the quarter-finals against Denmark. Agoume has shielded his backline well and was largely proactive in his challenges rather than reactive. His midfield partner, Djaoui Cisse of Rennes, also impressed against Denmark with two exceptional goals. One was curled into the top corner with his right foot and the other was driven in low with his left. Djaoui Cisse's sublime strike 😮💨 Goal of the Round contender ✅#U21GOTT | @AlipayPlus — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 17, 2025 Cisse is 21 and broke into the Rennes first team at the back end of last season, making 16 Ligue 1 appearances. Of the nations represented here, only France and Denmark face each other in this weekend's quarter-finals. Quenda's Portugal kick off proceedings on Saturday against the Netherlands, which will be followed by Spain against England. Denmark against France is the first game on Sunday and will be followed by Germany against Italy. (Top photos: Getty Images)
