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Chelsea signs Jorrel Hato from Ajax in the Dutch League, The talented centre back will be joining the World Champions on a long deal. 

Chelsea’s future left defender has been identified as 19-year-old Dutch international Jorrel Hato, who is on his way to Stamford Bridge.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea and Ajax agreed on a deal in excess of £40 million ($52.9 million) for the young defender, which includes a possible sell-on clause. Hato will travel to London this week to have a physical before signing a seven-year contract with the Blues. Personal terms had already been settled earlier this week.

Hato is an Ajax youth graduate who has played 111 Eredivisie games since his debut in 2023. Hato became Ajax’s youngest captain in history during the 2023-24 season, at the age of 17 years.

The adolescent has experienced a meteoric climb in his young career. He has already appeared six times for the Netherlands senior national team and has been praised for his potential as a young defender throughout Europe.

Chelsea urgently required depth at left back. Marc Cucurella led the Blues with 48 games last season, needing to play consistently in both the Premier League and the Conference League, since Chelsea lacked a viable alternative.

Hato joins Liam Delap, João Pedro, and Jamie Gittens as Chelsea’s new summer signings, following agreements with Estêvao Willian, Kendry Páez, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr.

The Club World Cup champions are bolstering their squad in preparation for a significant campaign in both the Premier League and the Champions League next season, with more signings expected at Stamford Bridge before the start of 2025-26.

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Chelsea faces a strong Paris Saint-Germain team in the FIFA Club World Cup Final, which is generating excitement. While PSG is often seen as the favorite, how Chelsea can beat PSG with a smart game plan is clear.

The key is to stop PSG’s main threats while maximizing Chelsea’s strengths. Here’s a simple, straightforward strategy for victory, centered on four key areas.

Be Calm With PSG’s Kick-Off Strategy

First and foremost, Chelsea must get out to a fast start. PSG frequently uses tricky kick-offs and an aggressive early press to catch opponents off guard. How Chelsea can beat PSG in the Club World Cup Final is dependent on their ability to remain calm.

Instead, they should remain organized, keep the ball calmly, and neutralize PSG’s early attacks. A calm and confident beginning will set the tone for the entire match.

Winning The Midfield Duel 

Winning the midfield fight is key. Chelsea can gain a significant edge by shutting out PSG’s top player, Vitinha. He frequently initiates PSG’s attacks, so minimizing his space and time on the ball is crucial.

To do this, Chelsea should employ a powerful, aggressive three-man midfield of Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, and Enzo Fernández. This group will construct a strong shield in front of the defense.

Caicedo’s terrific tackling, Lavia’s clever positioning, and Enzo Fernández’s vision and pushing will all come together. Their aggressive approach will cut off PSG’s passing lanes, reclaim crucial balls, and prevent PSG’s creative players from dominating the match.

Make Hakimi Defend More Than Attack 

Chelsea must keep Achraf Hakimi in control. He’s a dangerous offensive defender who’s always running forward to help score goals. Chelsea’s plan should be to have Hakimi defend more than attack.

They can accomplish this by utilizing their wide players to keep him busy defensively, making him reconsider moving forward. By pulling him back, Chelsea will drastically diminish PSG’s dangerous runs down the wings and prevent them from fielding extra attackers.

Starting Reece James At Right-Back

Finally, choosing the right right-back is critical in dealing with PSG’s tricky winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. While Malo Gusto is a viable option, a fit Reece James provides superior defense and experience in such a crucial game.

James’s strength, speed, and excellent defensive awareness make him the ideal player for tracking Kvaratskhelia’s quick movements, winning one-on-one battles, and preventing him from turning dangerous situations into real opportunities. James’ presence will provide the required defensive strength on that side of the field.

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