In his first interview as a Chelsea player, Harto talked about topics such as his current feelings.
Decision on joining Chelsea
—Of course, it feels strange to everyone who leaves the Netherlands, but for me it is a new journey, embracing new people, new culture, new teams, new games. I have seriously considered my future and that's what I want. I think I'm very suitable for Chelsea's play, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to join Chelsea.
This is undoubtedly a major decision. I played in Ajax for seven years and to me, it was my home—the people, the players, the coaches, the culture there. So it wasn't easy to leave, but my feeling at the time was that I needed to take a step to go to top events and go to top clubs. For me, it was the right decision to make at the right time.
About joining Ajax Youth Training that year - this was a major decision. For more than five years, I rushed from Rotterdam to Amsterdam every day, and did not move back to Amsterdam until I was 18 years old. So, for five years, I've been playing football in Ajax. Ajax arranged traffic for me until I was thirteen or fourteen years old, and after that I took the train.
Regarding the first professional contract with Ajax at the age of 16, I didn't expect that I could do it, this is certain, I just thought: "I will." Even at that age, I was very confident in myself, so I thought to myself that when I was 18 or 19, I would become a first team player.
Regarding the changes in the past three years
- At that time, all I was thinking about was Ajax. I just want to make my debut and play a few more games. Three years have passed, I am 19 years old and have played more than 100 games for Ajax, so I have accumulated some experience. For me, this is the perfect time to take a big step, to come to the Premier League, to Chelsea. Now I'm here!
About your progress in Ajax first team
- In fact, things happened faster than I thought, and a few months later, I made my debut and then became the first team starter. But I am ambitious, know what I want, and give it all. I felt that things were not going fast at the time, but now looking back, everything happened very quickly. At that age, you wouldn't think so much, you're just doing it.
I started with the U18 echelon and completed my first team debut in November. I remember I entered the starting lineup in March and started to compete in the Cup finals in April. Time flies so fast.