Aston Villa have announced the signing of Dutch full-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
The 22-year-old is understood to have put pen to paper on a six-year contract, keeping him tied to Villa Park until the summer of 2030.
Maatsen spent the second half of last season on loan at German club Borussia Dortmund where he made 16 Bundesliga appearances, scoring two goals, and featured seven times in the Champions League, including a start in the final against eventual winners Real Madrid.
Dortmund were allegedly keen to sign Maatsen on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell, but Sky Sports News claims that their offer fell short of the defender's original release clause.
Maatsen had a £35m release clause in his Chelsea contract which expired earlier this month, allowing the West Londoners to negotiate the higher price that they have agreed with Aston Villa.
Unai Emery's side are understood to have forked out a fee of £37.5m to sign Maatsen, who becomes Villa's second signing of the summer transfer window after the arrival of Lewis Dobbin from Everton.
Maatsen's departure from Chelsea will help boost the club's chances of complying with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Welcome, @Maatsen_Ian. 💜 pic.twitter.com/fZS04pAzcn
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) June 28, 2024
Maatsen ends six-year spell at Chelsea
Maatsen's switch to Birmingham sees his six-year stay at Chelsea come to an end, making his final appearance for the club as a substitute in an EFL Cup win on penalties against Newcastle United in December last year.
The Dutchman, who is currently away on international duty with Netherlands at Euro 2024, made a total of 16 first-team appearances for Chelsea, including his senior debut back in September 2019.
Maatsen featured regularly for Chelsea's academy sides from Under-18 to Under-23 level following a move from PSV Eindhoven, but he ultimately struggled to break into the senior setup and was reduced to just one Premier League start under former boss Mauricio Pochettino during the first half of last season.
The versatile full-back, who can operate on either side of the back four or further forward as a winger, is now preparing for a fresh challenge at Aston Villa and can look forward to playing again in the Champions League, courtesy of the Lions' impressive fourth-placed finish in the English top flight last season.
Maatsen could soon be joined at Villa Park by Juventus duo Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior, who have allegedly completed medicals ahead of joining for a combined £18.6m, with Douglas Luiz heading in the opposite direction in a deal worth £42.4m.
