Ian Maatsen is the new shooting star at Borussia Dortmund. But he also has to show sustained performance there in order to no longer be awarded year after year.
Ian Maatsen must have known that he could have a future with many moves. In 2018, the left-back moved from the PSV Eindhoven to FC Chelsea to England. When Maatsen (then in the U18s) was settling in in London, it should have been clear to him that he was unlikely to do this long-term. Because the young players who don’t immediately assert themselves are quickly gone again. Chelsea is constantly adding talent to its squad and then sending them elsewhere to gain match practice.
In recent years, over 30 players (more than the number of players in the professional squad) have been part of the “blues“At the same time on loan from another club.”Hire and loan” is a common practice at some top clubs in Europe, but at Chelsea it is particularly practiced.
FIFArestrictions do not apply to Maatsen
To counteract this, FIFA decided to restrict loan transactions with effect from July 1, 2022. “The goals are: promoting young players, better sporting balance and no hoarding of players“, it says on the world association’s website. The problem, however, is that the regulations (since July 2023 a maximum of seven loans, from July 2024 a maximum of six) do not apply to players up to the age of 21 and professionals trained by the club.
For Maatsen, this means: As a former youth player, Chelsea can loan him out as often as they want as long as his contract runs for at least a year after the end of the deal – the club doesn’t have to worry about FIFA statutes with him. At the age of 21, he already has a lot of short-term jobs behind him.
The Dutchman was appointed for the first time in 2020 Charlton Athletic awarded, things continued in 2021 Coventry Cityafter just one year to FC Burnley. Maatsen then stayed at Chelsea for six months before moving to Borussia Dortmund this January. Probably only for six months.
Maatsen: BVB future? “Why not?”
According to consistent media reports, the two clubs have agreed on a purely loan deal; Chelsea is said to have not granted Dortmund a purchase option. This is usually the case in a club that has the goal of developing their talents elsewhere so that they can then start as top performers in their own club or be sold at a high price. The success rate is quite manageable. Which is hardly surprising.
Especially at a young age, players need security and stability far from home. It goes without saying that this will not happen if a professional plays somewhere else every year. This is one of the reasons why Maatsen also seems to be longing for a new, long-term home. At least he gives BVB hope that there could be a longer-term commitment. “We’ll see that after the season. My options are open. I would like to come back – why not?“Maatsen said.
Chelsea is securing itself at a high price
The main reason for this is on the table: Chelsea. In Dortmund, the 21-year-old made a very good impression in his first two competitive games, most recently at 1. FC Köln (4-0) he also recorded his first goal participation with a great diagonal ball to goal scorer Donyell Malen. If Maatsen continues like this, Chelsea will have little interest in him not returning to Stamford Bridge – unless BVB is prepared to pay a lot of money for him.
Before sending Maatsen to Dortmund on a temporary basis, the Londoners extended his contract until 2026 and gave him an expensive opportunity to move permanently to another club. According to consistent media reports, the player now has a release clause that can be invoked next summer. However, it is 35 million pounds, which is over 40 million euros at the current exchange rate.
Permanent breakthrough or the next loan
Maatsen will have to confirm his performances from the games in Cologne and previously at Darmstadt 98 (3-0) several times in order to convince BVB or another club that he is worth that much money. In the first league they were his first two starting eleven appearances of his young career. He previously came on as a substitute twelve times in the Premier League at Chelsea this season, but otherwise he has made 79 appearances in the Championship (second division) and 34 games in League One (third division).
Maatsen has to permanently prove his class in Dortmund, where he will experience his first home game against VfL Bochum on Sunday (January 28, 2024, 5:30 p.m.) in order to be able to stay somewhere permanently. If he doesn’t impress at BVB, hardly any club will pay the £35 million and Chelsea won’t plan on having him as a regular player either. The likely consequence: another loan and a continued career with packed suitcases.