Aston Villa secured the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in June 2024.
 
The Dutchman was fresh from being named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season after helping Borussia Dortmund reach the final of the competition during his six-month loan spell in Germany.

He made a total of 45 appearances in all competitions during his maiden campaign at Villa Park, netting his first goal in claret and blue during the club's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 triumph over Club Brugge in March 2025.

Maatsen enjoyed a further 44 outings during the 2025/26 season and was a second-half substitute in Villa's UEFA Europa League final success over Freiburg, lifting the trophy on a memorable night in Istanbul.
 
Maatsen moved to England in 2018 when Chelsea beat a host of clubs to sign him from PSV Eindhoven. Loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Coventry City and Burnley followed, with the latter stint seeing him win the Championship and being named in the PFA Team of the Season.

The defender was selected for the Netherlands' Euro 2024 squad, which follows on from the promise he’s shown at age-group level where he’s played for the Dutch at U15s, U16s, U17s, U18s and U21s.

A goal in the Under-17 European Championship final in 2019 helped his country to a 4-2 win against Italy as Maatsen picked up silverware in the famous orange shirt.   

He was also named in the Netherlands squad for the UEFA Under-21 European Championship in June 2025.