Aston Villa have officially completed the signing of Ian Maatsen from fellow Premier League side Chelsea, as confirmed by both clubs on Friday. The 22-year-old is currently gearing up for the Netherlands’ last-16 clash against Romania at Euro 2024 but will soon be making his way to his new home at Villa Park for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Maatsen, a versatile full-back, has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with Villa, with the transfer fee believed to be worth up to £37.5 million. This marks Unai Emery’s second signing of the transfer window, following the arrival of Lewis Dobbin from Everton earlier this month.
Aston Villa took to Twitter to express their delight over the acquisition, stating, “Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea.”
During the second half of last season, Maatsen enjoyed a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he played a crucial role in their journey to the Champions League final. This experience will undoubtedly prove valuable as Villa prepare for their upcoming European campaign.
In his time at Dortmund, Maatsen made 16 appearances in the Bundesliga and seven in the Champions League, even finding the back of the net in a quarter-final victory against Atletico Madrid.
Prior to his loan spell at Dortmund, Maatsen had a successful stint at Burnley during the 2022-23 season, making 15 appearances for Chelsea. However, this move to Aston Villa brings an end to his six-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Overall, Maatsen’s arrival at Villa Park is expected to bolster their defensive options and provide them with a talented and experienced player who can contribute both domestically and in Europe.
