Aston Villa have signed Netherlands left-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in a deal reported to be worth more than £37m.
The 22-year-old was named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season after helping Borussia Dortmund reach the final, which they lost to Real Madrid at Wembley last month.
🚨🟣🔵 Official, confirmed. Ian Maatsen joins Aston Villa on £37.5m deal from Chelsea, record cash fee so far in the summer window.
Contract until June 2030 negotiated by his agent Ali Barat of Epic Sports.
Maatsen, key target for #AVFC after excellent loan at BVB. pic.twitter.com/nTHYtGCfuH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2024
Maatsen, who is currently with the Netherlands at the European Championship in Germany, is Unai Emery’s second arrival this summer after the capture of Everton forward Lewis Dobbin, 21.
It is the latest in a series of June transfers which seem set to help a number of clubs avoid breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules.
Maatsen had spent six years at Stamford Bridge, having joined the Blues Academy from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2018 and made his senior debut for the Blues the following, coming off the bench during a 7-1 League Cup win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.
He enjoyed successful loans at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City and Burnley – helping the Clarets to the Championship title in 2022/23 – before being incorporated into Chelsea’s first-team squad under Mauricio Pochettino last season.
The left-back made 15 appearances for the Blues before spending the second half of the season on loan at Dortmund.
Some moments of brilliance from Ian Maatsen at Dortmund this year 🔥
Just a little taste of what you'll be getting, Aston Villa fans 🔍 pic.twitter.com/RNBK0VDhB8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 28, 2024
He registered 16 appearances in the Bundesliga and seven in the Champions League, finding the net in the club’s quarter-final triumph over Atletico Madrid and starting the final.
He has been an unused sub in the Netherlands’ three Group D games at Euro 2024.
They will face Romania in the Round of 16 on Tuesday (5pm BST).
