£34.5m Full-Back Determined To Leave Chelsea This Summer
Reports suggest that Chelsea have received notification that one of their young full-backs is eager to secure a permanent departure from the club this summer.
Ian Maatsen was recruited from the PSV Eindhoven youth setup by Chelsea back in 2018. Like many other promising talents at Chelsea, Maatsen embarked on a series of loan spells before making his mark in the first team.
During his loan stints, Maatsen gained valuable experience at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, and Burnley, where he played a pivotal role in the latter’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2022-23 season.
Despite making his debut for Chelsea in September 2019, the 22-year-old found consistent opportunities hard to come by at Stamford Bridge. However, he managed to impress Mauricio Pochettino, making 15 appearances in the first half of the season.
Despite his versatility, being capable of operating in both defensive and attacking roles on the left flank, Maatsen found playing time limited at Chelsea. Consequently, he made a solitary Premier League start before departing on loan to Borussia Dortmund in January.
It appears that Chelsea may stand to earn £34.5 million from the sale of Maatsen. Since joining Signal Iduna Park, the Dutch player has solidified his position as the left-back in Edin Terzic’s team, featuring in 13 consecutive Bundesliga matches and completing the full 90 minutes on four occasions in the Champions League.
Maatsen showcased his abilities by scoring in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final second leg, securing Dortmund’s spot in a thrilling semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. Additionally, he has contributed one goal and two assists in Bundesliga matches this season.
Despite his impressive performances in Germany, Maatsen’s future at Chelsea seems uncertain. According to journalist Patrick Berger, the 22-year-old has made a firm decision to permanently depart from Stamford Bridge after settling in quickly at Dortmund. Chelsea has reportedly been informed of his intentions as Dortmund prepares to activate his release clause.
The potential sale of Maatsen could fetch Chelsea between €35 million (£30.2 million) and €40 million (£34.5 million) this season, providing some financial relief amidst their significant losses. This windfall may prompt further departures from the club.
Following another period of substantial spending without commensurate success on the pitch, Chelsea reported a pre-tax loss of £90.1 million for the 2022-23 financial year, although they assert compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Nonetheless, the pressure mounts on Chelsea to execute numerous sales this summer, with out-of-favor homegrown players likely topping the list. Their departures would yield pure profit for the club.
Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah have featured prominently under Pochettino in 2024, but Chelsea may entertain offers for both, especially considering Gallagher’s contract expires at the end of the next season.
Defenders Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva are also likely to depart, albeit for lesser fees, while Lewis Hall’s loan move to Newcastle United is set to become permanent for £28 million.
Additionally, Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Hakim Ziyech, and Armando Broja, all currently on loan or playing elsewhere, could face potential departures.
