Ian Maatsen becomes Aston Villa’s latest recruit having joined from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old has starred on loan for several clubs in previous seasons, including his most recent spell at Borussia Dortmund, and arrives at Villa Park amid plenty of excitement from the club’s fanbase.
Learn more about our new man and his journey to Villa…
Impressing Chelsea’s scouts
Maatsen caught the eye of several top European clubs during his time in PSV Eindhoven’s Academy, but it was Chelsea who made their move for him in 2018.
Impressed by his versatility and ability to play in defence and midfield, the Blues swooped in and took the then 16-year-old to west London.
Chances in the first team were limited following his debut in 2019 before he featured more under Mauricio Pochettino last term, making 15 appearances.
Life on loan
The Dutchman’s six years as a Chelsea player were largely spent away from the club as he gained experience via four separate loan spells.
Maatsen enjoyed consecutive seasons at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City and Burnley respectively, impressing in League One before two campaigns in the Championship that ended with him helping the latter romp to the title.
Four goals and six assists from left-back for the Clarets marked him out as a standout performer and made clubs around the continent take note.
Dazzling at Dortmund
Maatsen was a part of every Chelsea squad for their first 20 Premier League games of the 2023/24 season before a loan move to Dortmund was sanctioned in January.
Things immediately clicked into place for him in Germany and the defender started all bar three of their matches over the second half of the campaign.
A goal on the final day of the Bundesliga season helped Dortmund secure a fifth-placed finish, but it was in the Champions League where he won most of his plaudits.
Maatsen played every minute of their seven knockout ties, finding the net against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, as the German side reached the showpiece final before losing 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley.
Netherlands nod
The Vlaardingen native is currently on duty with his country at the European Championship in Germany.
Maatsen’s fine form for Dortmund convinced Ronald Koeman to name the left-back in his squad for the tournament despite the fact he’s yet to win a senior cap.
His inclusion with the Netherlands team follows on from the promise he’s shown at age-group level, where he’s played for the Dutch at U15s, U16s, U17s, U18s and U21s.
A goal in the Under-17 European Championship final in 2019 helped his country to a 4-2 win against Italy as Maatsen picked up silverware in the famous orange shirt.
Individual awards
Despite not featuring in the group stage of last season’s Champions League, Maatsen’s standout performances in his seven knockout appearances won him a place in the tournament’s Team of the Season, alongside the likes of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden.
During his time with Dortmund, he also picked up the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award following his displays in his first month at the club.
More individual recognition came his way at Burnley, where he was named in the Championship Team of the Season by the EFL and the PFA.
