Aston Villa sign Maatsen from Chelsea

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of left-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea. 

The 22-year-old Dutchman was named in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season after helping Borussia Dortmund reach the final while on a loan at the German club. 

Maatsen is Villa's second signing of the summer, after winger Lewis Dobbin from Everton. 

A left-back who can also play in midfield, Maatsen is currently representing the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2024. His nation play Romania in the last 16 on Tuesday. 

Who is Maatsen?

Maatsen was born in Vlaardingen, Netherlands, on 10 March 2002.

He began his youth career at Feyenoord and then went to Sparta Rotterdam and PSV Eindhoven before leaving for Chelsea.

The left-back played for the Blues' Under-18s and Under-21s before his first loan to Charlton Athletic in 2020. He was also at Coventry City for a season but where he really made his mark was at Burnley.

Under manager Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor, Burnley won the 2022/23 Championship, with Maatsen playing 39 matches in the league, producing four goals and six assists.

Last season he returned to Chelsea and starred at the Premier League Summer Series tournament in the United States before being loaned out to Dortmund in January, playing a crucial part in their run to the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid 2-0.

He made 16 appearances in the Bundesliga and seven in the Champions League.

2024/25

After his involvement at Euro 2024, Maatsen will join his new team-mates for pre-season. Villa's first preparation match ahead of the Premier League campaign is on 20 July against Spartak Trnava. See clubs' friendlies, here.

Villa's first Premier League match of 2024/25 is at West Ham United on Saturday 17 August, a 17:30 BST kick-off. 

Maatsen will also provide welcome experience of Champions League football, with Villa participating in the competition in the upcoming season for the first time in their history.

Hakim Ziyech has also left Chelsea, on the same day as Maatsen. Ziyech spent last season on loan at Galatasaray and has now joined the Turkish club permanently.

The Moroccan winger made 64 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, scoring six goals and adding nine assists.

See: Summer 2024 transfers & news