Chelsea star returns to former club in surprise visit during Premier League run-in

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Evening Standard

·30 April 2026

Chelsea star returns to former club in surprise visit during Premier League run-in

Dutch defender has struggled for game time in debut campaign

Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato has returned to Amsterdam to catch up with former team-mates and coaches at his previous club Ajax.

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The 20-year-old was photographed at the Dutch side's Sportpark De Toekomst training ground, where he graduated through the club’s academy.

Hato is one of the biggest success stories in recent years among Ajax youth products, having become one of the youngest captains in the club’s illustrious history at just 17 years old before joining Chelsea last summer aged 19 for £37million.

And it is clear that he remembers his time at the Dutch club fondly, as he was pictured returning during one of Chelsea’s days off earlier this week as Calum McFarlane’s squad enjoy an unusually long lead-on to their next fixture, which sees them face Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

The photo of Hato returning to Ajax was published by the Eredivisie side’s official social media accounts with the caption: “Good to see you, Jorrell!”

In October, Hato made what at the time was a rare start for his new team as they faced off against his former side in the Champions League group phase, with Chelsea 5-1 winners on the night. Afterwards, the versatile defender admitted he had “struggled” in his first couple of months in England but was beginning to find his feet.