How unlikely figure helped Chelsea get £37m transfer over the line amid Liam Rosenior admission

Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato has been in brilliant form for the Blues of late and his performances earned him a call-up to the Netherlands squad

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman believes defender Jorrel Hato is "developing tremendously" at Chelsea and also detailed how he had a role in the Dutchman making the switch from Ajax.

The Netherlands international, who is in the national squad for upcoming friendlies against Norway and Ecuador in the next few days, moved to Stamford Bridge last August for £37million, signing a seven-year contract with the Blues.

It took a while for Hato to get going in England. The 20-year-old defender, signed because of his enormous potential as well as his versatility in the back line, had a difficult time standing out under Enzo Maresca.

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His contribution under the Italian mainly came in cup matches, but under Liam Rosenior, things have been much different. Hato has started 10 of Rosenior's 19 games in charge, and has appeared in some capacity in all but two of those fixtures.

Hato's recent form has earned him a call-up to the Netherlands' squad for their back-to-back friendlies in the coming days. Koeman has been impressed with Hato's form in recent times and also revealed how he played a part in the former Ajax defender making the decision to switch Amsterdam for London.

"He also called me when he could make the transfer to Chelsea," Koeman said. "Then it's about whether you are ready for it, is it the step where you are going to play.

"He is developing tremendously and is only 20 years old. He is there for a reason, because he plays his matches at Chelsea."

Pressed on whether Hato had to call him, Koeman said: "It's not an obligation. It's not like I tell players when you have a chance to change clubs that they have to call me.

"But they call and I think it makes sense. It's about playing time and then I give advice. The advice is often followed."

Hato started alongside Wesley Fofana at the heart of Chelsea's defence in the 3-0 defeat at Everton before the international break. While it was not the greatest of evenings for the Blues defenders, it was another sign of the trust Rosenior has in the Dutchman.

"He has earned my trust and the staff's trust and he's a very, very exciting player," said the Chelsea head coach on Hato earlier this month. "In my time, he's been magnificent. I'm so impressed with him. His temperament, his physicality. Technically, he's a joy to work with every day. And his age is scary, how good he could be."

On Hato's slow start at Chelsea, Rosenior explained: "It takes time. He's a young player who's come through at Ajax, captained Ajax at 17 years old. Then he comes to a massive club, different league, different culture. It takes time to bed in.

"And so in terms of what has happened before me, there are loads of different contextual things. He could play pretty much every position on the pitch, which normally Ajax-educated players can do.

"That won't stop him from becoming [a top player]. If he stays with his temperament and keeps improving at this rate, the sky's the limit for him."