Aston Villa Sign Chelsea Left-Back Maatsen for £35m

Aston Villa have secured the transfer of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen for a fee of £35 million.

The 22-year-old Maatsen spent the latter half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, contributing to the Bundesliga club's journey to the Champions League final.

Currently, Maatsen is with the Netherlands national team at Euro 2024, preparing for their last-16 match against Romania on Tuesday.

This signing marks Villa's second acquisition of the summer, following the addition of striker Lewis Dobbin from Everton.

Maatsen joined Chelsea in 2019 from PSV Eindhoven and showcased his talent during loan stints at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Burnley, and Dortmund.

He played a crucial part 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.

Last season, Maatsen started at Chelsea but found it challenging to secure regular playing time under manager Mauricio Pochettino, making 15 appearances across all competitions.

In January, he moved to Dortmund on a six-month loan after signing a one-year contract extension with Chelsea, extending his stay until June 2026. The contract included a release clause, anticipating his transfer this summer.

During his spell in Germany, Maatsen appeared in 23 matches and scored three goals, helping Dortmund finish fifth in the Bundesliga. They ultimately lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Maatsen departs from Stamford Bridge after making 16 appearances for Chelsea.

In related news, Chelsea are nearing a deal to sign 18-year-old attacking midfielder Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for a reported fee of around £19 million.