Aston Villa has finalized the acquisition of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen for a transfer fee of £35 million.
Maatsen, 22, spent the latter part of the previous season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, contributing to the Bundesliga club’s journey to the Champions League final.
Currently, the defender is with the Netherlands national team at Euro 2024, as they prepare for their last-16 match against Romania on Tuesday.
This transfer marks Villa’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of striker Lewis Dobbin from Everton.
Chelsea originally signed Maatsen in 2019 from PSV Eindhoven. He gained experience and showcased his talents during loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Burnley, and Dortmund.
Maatsen played a pivotal role in Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals in 39 appearances and earning a spot in the Championship Team of the Season.
Starting the last season at Chelsea, Maatsen found it challenging to secure regular playing time under manager Mauricio Pochettino, though he made 15 appearances across all competitions.
In January, a six-month loan move to Dortmund was arranged after Maatsen signed a one-year contract extension with Chelsea, lasting until June 2026. This contract included a release clause that anticipated his departure this summer.
While in Germany, Maatsen made 23 appearances and scored three goals, contributing to Dortmund’s fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga and their 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Maatsen leaves Stamford Bridge having made 16 appearances for Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is nearing the completion of a deal for 18-year-old attacking midfielder Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa, with the transfer fee reported to be around £19 million.
