Chelsea are close to reaching a full agreement with Ajax over the sale of Jorrel Hato, with the versatile defender set to sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, football.london understands.

The fee is understood to be around £37million after a week-and-a-half worth of discussions nearing a conclusion. The Blues are set to bring Hato, who agreed personal terms with the west Londoners last week, into Enzo Maresca's squad to provide support and competition for Marc Cucurella.

Cucurella clocked over 5000 minutes for club and country last season but Chelsea want to ensure the Spaniard does not pick up any unnecessary injuries from being overused. Hato can also play in the centre of defence but the feeling is that the Netherlands international will be used as a left-sided full-back.

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The Dutchman has now been given permission to travel to London to undergo medical with Chelsea, football.london understands, with a club-to-club agreement imminent.

Hato is set to become the eighth incoming of the summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge following the arrivals of Kendry Paez, Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Chelsea will be hoping to make it nine fairly soon as they look to complete a deal to sign Hato's international teammate Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

Chelsea are locked in advanced negotiations with the German club over a deal to bring the 22-year-old Dutchman to SW6 this summer. football.london was told earlier this week that the Blues are preparing their opening offer for Simons, who has a broad agreement in place with the west London club on personal terms.

Bayern Munich also expressed an interest in the Netherlands international, but Simons has his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge. There is a genuine confidence from all parties that Simons will become a Blues player this summer.