Chelsea seal SHOCK £31.5m Deadline Day transfer
Tom Weber
- 1 Sept 2023 15:41 BST
- 4 min read
Chelsea and Burnley have agreed a surprising big-money deal for Ian Maatsen, according to a report.
The Dutch left-back joined Chelsea in 2018 as a teenager and spent last season on loan at Burnley as they stormed to the Championship title. There had been talks that he could head back on loan to Turf Moor to link up with Vincent Kompany again, but talk of a departure had gone somewhat quiet.
Now, however, The Telegraph reports that the two clubs have agreed on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy the 21-year-old next year. The entire package is reportedly worth £31.5 million including add-ons.
READ: Chelsea Deadline Day transfer ON as Romano reports dramatic U-TURN
The report goes on to say that Chelsea decided to cash in on the promising defender after Marc Cucurella's loan move to Manchester United fell through. The Blues felt that they did not need three senior left-backs without European football.
Maatsen is the second high-potential left-back to depart after 18-year-old Lewis Hall was allowed to head to Newcastle in a similar loan deal with a mandatory buy clause. Maatsen has not yet consented to the move, but Chelsea have given him permission to speak to Burnley.
Chelsea's exits
The Blues have raised a lot of money from sales this summer, which has allowed them to once again splash the cash. Maatsen would be the latest departure but he may not be the last.
In fact, the above-mentioned report states: "Should the move back to Burnley go through, there is a growing expectation that Maatsen will be followed out of the Chelsea exit by Conor Gallagher, with Tottenham making a verbal bid of £35m and the Blues holding out for £45m."
DEADLINE DAY: Every confirmed transfer around Europe
Mauricio Pochettino admitted at his press conference earlier today: "He [Gallagher] is an important player for us but what is going to happen in the future, I don't know." Fellow academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah could also yet leave amid interest from Bayern and Nottingham Forest.
