- 15 hours ago
Chelsea star's transfer desire: Maatsen wants to emulate Bellingham
Milan Keskin
- Updated: 30 Apr 2024 13:38 BST
- 3 min read
Ian Maatsen wants to make a permanent switch from Chelsea to Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The left-back is currently loaned by the German top club, who don't have a straightforward purchase option but rather a right of first refusal. Maatsen has a release clause of around €40 million in his Chelsea contract, which makes things difficult for the Bundesliga side.
Nevertheless, Maatsen hopes that Dortmund will find a way to sign him permanently. The left-back wants to leave London this summer after failing to break into the team under Mauricio Pochettino despite a promising pre-season.
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The 22-year-old defender simply has more playing time in Germany and, for example, will feature in the semi-final of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Chelsea, meanwhile, are scrambling to get any kind of European football for next season.
Father confirms transfer desire
“We are working on staying at the club [Dortmund],” his father Edward Maatsen has now confirmed to Voetbal International. “The clubs have to fight it out among themselves. Ian is developing well here and things haven't been going well at Chelsea since they changed ownership.”
According to the left-back's father, money plays a major role in football these days: "A lot at that club also revolves around money, which sometimes seems more important than the club's interests."
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STATS
Ian Maatsen
F, M (L), AM (C)
Dortmund
Ian Maatsen
F, M (L), AM (C)
Dortmund
If Dortmund and Chelsea cannot reach an agreement, the 22-year-old also has other options in Europe: “We have more options besides Chelsea and Dortmund, but Dortmund have proven to be a good restart. And look which guys have come from there: [Jude] Bellingham, [Erling] Haaland…"
Edward Maatsen warns his son against taking too big a step too soon: “As a young boy, you should not join too big a club, with so much pressure.” Maatsen points to Man City: “At Manchester City, for example, they don't just throw a young boy into the left-back position. That's where heads roll when things don't go well and as a young footballer you are quickly forgotten when things don't go well.”
