Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Vincent Kompany completes Chelsea raid to sign Ian Maatsen on loan for ‘big club’ Burnley

Ian Maatsen playing for Coventry City

Chelsea have confirmed they have sent Ian Maatsen on loan to Burnley for the duration of the 2022-23 Championship season.

Maatsen spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan in the second tier with Coventry City, for whom he made 40 appearances in the competition. The left-back helped his temporary club to a mid-table finish.

For the season ahead, though, Maatsen will be playing in new surroundings. There had been rumours he would head to Feyenoord in his native Netherlands as a replacement for Manchester United new boy Tyrell Malacia.

Instead, though, Maatsen has signed with Burnley on a season-long loan after their relegation from the Premier League.

Burnley are making plenty of changes to their squad ahead of their return to the Championship. So far, the headline additions have been CJ Egan-Riley and Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City.

Both will bolster a defence that has been deprived of Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Nathan Collins already.

Burnley also bid farewell to left-back Erik Pieters over the summer. However, they have now sourced a reinforcement in the shape of his compatriot Maatsen.

Upon signing for Burnley, the Chelsea product told their club website: “I’m excited to come here and play for Burnley. It’s a big club and a new challenge which I’m ready for.

“It’s a different town, but a new challenge. I look forward to meeting new people and this season will be good for me.”

Maatsen will now be working under the tutelage of one of the Premier League’s best ever defenders. Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany took the reins at Turf Moor this summer.

Kompany explains why Ian Maatsen will be ‘great addition’

The manager believes his new recruit has the necessary qualities to contribute in both phases of the game.

Kompany said: “We’re pleased to add Ian to our team. He’s a talented, energetic and pacy player, who can defend and get forward well.

“Ian will be a great addition to our team on and off the pitch.”

This will be Maatsen’s third temporary spell away from Chelsea after stints with Charlton Athletic and Coventry. His contract with his parent club is due to run until 2024.

Still only 20 years old, it could be a big year ahead for the Dutchman’s development.

Meanwhile, his parent club – for whom he has only ever made one appearance – will be working out how to stock up in his position ahead of the new season.

Their main choice, Ben Chilwell, missed much of last season through injury. His deputy, Marcos Alonso, benefited in his absence but is now looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge.

It will be interesting to see what kind of environment Maatsen returns to after his latest spell in the Championship.

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