Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of left-back Ian Matsen from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old Dutchman has been named in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League squad of the season after helping Borussia Dortmund reach the final while on loan at the German club.
Matsen is Villa’s second signing of the summer after winger Louis Tobin from Everton.
A left-back who can also play in midfield, Maatsen is currently representing the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2024. His country plays Romania in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Who is Matson?
Matsen was born on March 10, 2002 in Vlaardingen, Netherlands.
He started his youth career at Feyenoord, then moved to Sparta Rotterdam and PSV Eindhoven before moving to Chelsea.
He played at left-back for the Blues’ under-18s and under-21s before a first loan move to Charlton Athletic in 2020. He was also at Coventry City for one season, but he really made his mark at Burnley.
Under manager Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor, Burnley won the 2022/23 Championship, with Matsen making four goals and six assists in 39 league appearances.
He returned to Chelsea last season and was loaned to Dortmund in January during the Premier League Summer Series in America, playing a key role in their run to the Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid. .
He played 16 times in the Bundesliga and seven times in the Champions League.
Ian Matsen in action against Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Final.
2024/25
Following his involvement at Euro 2024, Matsen will join up with his new team-mates in pre-season. Villa’s first pre-season game ahead of the Premier League campaign is against Spartak Trnava on 20 July. Check out the club friendlies here.
Villa’s first Premier League match of 2024/25 is on Saturday 17 August at West Ham United with a 17:30 BST kick-off.
Matsen will also provide welcome experience of Champions League football, with Villa competing in the competition for the first time in their history this coming season.
See: Summer 2024 Transfers & News