Ian Maatsen is yet to decide on his Chelsea future despite signing a contract extension with the club until 2026 in January, with Borussia Dortmund keen on completing a permanent move for the Dutch left-back who has a release clause of £35million.
Maatsen, a Chelsea academy graduate, is currently with Dortmund on loan. The 22-year-old started just one Premier League game in the first half of the season before making the move to Germany in January where he has regularly started and played every minute of their Champions League knockout games.
Such has been his form that he is in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands provisional squad for Euro 2024.
Ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley against Real Madrid, Maatsen was asked if he was interested in moving back to London and revealed that nothing has been decided yet.
‘I still have a contract and after the summer we’re going to decide where my future going to be,‘ said Maatsen.
Ian Maatsen has been a key part of Borussia Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final
Dortmund are keen to sign Maatsen permanently but he signed a contract extension at Chelsea before joining on loan
Maatsen scored in Dortmund’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals
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‘I know I came here to Dortmund prove myself that I can play on the highest level and the highest stage and that’s what I’m doing now,’ he added.
It remains to be seen whether the likely new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca may push for Maatsen to be recalled, but Chelsea are not short of left-back options with Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell. And Maatsen revealed that he hasn’t spoken with Chelsea about his next step yet.
‘No, not yet (spoke to them). They came a couple of times to Dortmund to just see how I am and they’re happy with my development,’ said Maatsen, who praised Dortmund for giving him the chance to flourish.
‘They (Dortmund) just give young people opportunity. Like me, I just came here from the start and straight in. They give us the chance to shine and I’m very grateful for that, so that’s why I came here. I feel like I’ve been playing here with the guys for many years and it’s such a good feeling,’ he said.
