Aston Villa have successfully signed Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen for £35m. The 22-year-old Dutch defender spent the latter part of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, where he played a crucial role in the team’s journey to the Champions League final.
Currently with the Netherlands national team at Euro 2024, Maatsen is preparing for a last-16 match against Romania on Tuesday. This acquisition marks Villa’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of striker Lewis Dobbin from Everton.
Maatsen joined Chelsea in 2019 from PSV Eindhoven and has since had productive loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Burnley, and Dortmund. He was instrumental in Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2022-23 season, netting four goals in 39 appearances and earning a spot in the Championship Team of the Season.
Starting last season with Chelsea, Maatsen struggled for consistent playtime under Mauricio Pochettino, featuring in 15 matches across all competitions. In January, he secured a six-month loan to Dortmund after signing a contract extension with Chelsea until June 2026, which included a release clause anticipating his summer departure.
During his stint in Germany, Maatsen made 23 appearances and scored three goals, helping Dortmund to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga and a Champions League final appearance against Real Madrid, where they lost 2-0.