EXCLUSIVE: Everything you need to know about Jorrel Hato

Jorrel Hato sent the rumour mill into overdrive last month.

The Ajax defender was pictured at Anfield during Liverpool’s impressive 4-1 Premier League win over Ipswich Town.

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Several social media accounts shared images depicting the 18-year-old in the Main Stand and later evidence arrived via an Instagram Stories post by one of his friends.

Ajax didn’t have an Eredivisie fixture and, having sat out the Europa League defeat to RFS, it is thought that Hato was making the most of his downtime with a trip to Merseyside.

It’s no secret that Liverpool boast a strong Dutch connection this season - through Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch on the pitch as well as Arne Slot and his coaching staff.

Hato even boasts a deep connection with one staff member in John Heitinga, who was previously his coach at Ajax.

He’s become one of the hottest young talents in the world game, recently making the breakthrough to the Dutch national team. Comfortable at either left-back or left-sided centre-back, Hato has been tipped for a move to a bigger club in the near future.

The Amsterdammers’ bleak financial outlook makes a sale more likely and Liverpool have indeed been named among the suitors for his signature.

It’s estimated that Ajax would sell for €50 million with Hato secured under a contract until mid-2028. With Andy Robertson not getting any younger - and Virgil van Dijk out of contract next summer - Hato could well provide a twin solution to a Liverpool problem.

Anfield Watch spoke to Dutch football expert Milan Keskin from Football Transfers to get the latest on Jorrel Hato.

What is Jorrel Hato’s best position?

The best position for Jorrel Hato is left centre-back. He can also play as a left-back if needed, but it’s not his preferred role.

Is he ready for the next step in his career?

I doubt whether he is ready for the next step in his career. He is still very young and would benefit from making an intermediate move, for example, to a club like Fulham or West Ham United. I think Liverpool is still a bit too ambitious for him at this stage.

What’s different between Hato and other Ajax academy graduates like Devyne Rensch?

In essence, there isn’t much difference between the development of Jorrel Hato and Devyne Rensch. Both debuted at a very young age. However, Rensch's development stalled after his debut. Similarly, Hato hasn’t shown significant improvement this season. This raises the question of whether he’s ready for a higher-level challenge.

Can he succeed in the Premier League?

He certainly has the talent to eventually succeed at the top of the Premier League—there’s no doubt about that. But Hato still needs to make progress.

Would Liverpool be a good move for him?

Learning under the guidance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool could be an excellent environment for him. However, the most important thing is that he continues to get regular playing time.

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