Aston Villa and Chelsea have reached an agreement on the transfer of Dutch defender Ian Maatsen, with the 22-year-old left-back set to join Villa Park for a fee between £35 million and £40 million, depending on add-ons.
The transfer is subject to a physical, after which Maatsen is expected to sign a six-year contract with Aston Villa.
Maatsen’s decision to join Villa is reportedly influenced by the team’s qualification for the Champions League next season.
Despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, who he played for on loan in the second half of last season, Maatsen has chosen Villa as his preferred destination.
Chelsea had explored the possibility of including Villa striker Jhon Duran in a swap deal, but ultimately decided to sell Maatsen separately.
Dortmund had made a bid to sign Maatsen earlier this month, but were unwilling to meet Chelsea’s asking price of £35 million.
Maatsen had extended his contract with Chelsea in January, but the deal included a release clause that would likely lead to his departure this summer.
Currently, Maatsen is with the Netherlands national team at Euro 2024, where they are set to face France on Friday in Leipzig.
As such, he has not yet signed a contract with Aston Villa or undergone a physical.
Maatsen has previously impressed on loan stints at Charlton, Coventry, Burnley, and Dortmund, but struggled to break through under Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea last season.
The transfer marks a significant departure for Chelsea, as Maatsen leaves Stamford Bridge after participating in 16 games for the team.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, bolster their defense with the addition of the talented young left-back, who is expected to play a key role in their Champions League campaign next season.
