Ian Maatsen has officially joined Aston Villa from Chelsea on a permanent deal, bringing an end to his six-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa have officially announced the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, securing the left-back on a permanent deal. The 22-year-old Dutch youth international joins Villa Park for a fee that surpasses his previous £35 million release clause, which was exclusively offered to Borussia Dortmund.

Maatsen had an impressive loan spell at Dortmund, where he made the switch in January. During his time there, he contributed two goals and two assists, helping the team reach the UEFA Champions League final. Although Dortmund fell short against Real Madrid at Wembley, Maatsen received widespread praise for his performances under former Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic. He featured in 22 out of 23 appearances across all competitions.

Prior to his loan at Dortmund, Maatsen also caught the eye during his loan spell at Burnley, where he played a key role in their title-winning campaign in the Championship for the 2022/23 season. His performances earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Season.

However, Maatsen struggled to secure regular playing time upon his return to Chelsea last season, making just one start in the Premier League before moving to Germany. In January, his contract with Chelsea was extended until the summer of 2026, following his rejection of an obligation-to-buy bid from Burnley.

Maatsen has represented the Netherlands at the U21 level, making 17 appearances. Initially left out of Ronald Koeman’s provisional squad for Euro 2024, he was later called up due to injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners. He could potentially earn his first senior cap for the Netherlands during the tournament in Germany this summer. In the Netherlands’ opening game in Group D, Maatsen was an unused substitute as they came from behind to defeat Poland 2-1.

Although primarily a left-back, Maatsen has also showcased his versatility by playing in attacking midfield, center midfield, and on both wings. Born in Vlaardingen, Netherlands, he began his career in the academies of Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam before being signed by Chelsea from PSV in 2018.