Arsenal transfer already endorsed by Jordan Henderson after giving star 'advice'

Arsenal have reportedly identified 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato as a top target ahead of this summer’s transfer window, with the youngster impressing in the Netherlands since making his Eredivisie debut midway through last season. And Liverpool icon Jordan Henderson has already endorsed the player as well as offering the star advice.

Hato came through the Ajax academy after joining the club from Sparta Rotterdam as a youngster and featured for the first-team for the first time in January 2023 when he came off the bench for the last five minutes of his team’s Dutch Cup victory over Den Bosch.

The teenager started Ajax’s last six league matches of the last campaign after breaking into the team and has become a key player this time round, missing just eight minutes of league action all season.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal believe Hato is a top, top centre-back and have made him a priority on their transfer wish list. They are pushing to get a deal over the line and believe they are frontrunners to land him.

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Henderson became team-mates with Hato at Ajax when he quit the Saudi Pro League in January and appeared to be immediately impressed with the player as he gave an interview to the Ajax website a few weeks later. “It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” the England midfielder explained in February.

“He’s a very mature person, works hard – fantastic player. And yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him I’m sure. I think he just needs to continue to do what he’s been doing. Obviously, it’s been working for him. I’ll try to help him and also the players if they ask for a little bit of advice off the field. If I can help them, I’m sure I’ll try and do that, of course.”