MY ACCOUNT
Chelsea youngster Ian Maatsen is making the most of his latest loan move.
Now in his third consecutive season gaining first-team experience outside the top flight, his current spell at Burnley could hardly be going any better.
With the Clarets top of the table and playing great football under Vincent Kompany, the attacking left-back has become a key player for the side.
Ahead of Burnley’s trip to Blackpool on Saturday, we take a look at Maatsen’s career so far and where he might be headed next.
Early years
Maatsen is only 5ft 6in tall and as a child he was dropped by the Feyenoord academy for being too small. Sparta Rotterdam picked him up before he moved on to PSV Eindhoven.
In 2018, Chelsea swooped to sign the then 16-year-old. The Londoners were impressed by the versatility of a player able to perform further forward and even as a centre-back, despite his diminutive status.
The 2019-20 season saw Maatsen establish himself within the Blues’ academy side and make his first-team debut as a substitute in a Carabao Cup victory over Grimsby.
Then came the first of three seasons out on loan, when the young Dutchman joined League One Charlton for the 2020-21 campaign, with the Addicks often using him as a winger.
Maatsen took a step up to join Coventry in the Championship the following season. He was given a wing-back role by the Sky Blues, providing the perfect platform to show off his mix of skills.
Burnley success
After an impressive spell at Coventry — in which he scored three goals — Maatsen was ready for further progression. Relegated Burnley have him a chance to compete at the top end of the Championship.
Under a new manager in Kompany, the Clarets have implemented a very different playing style to the pragmatic tactics that brought them success under Sean Dyche.
Maatsen got off to the perfect start for his new club, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 opening-day win over Huddersfield on his debut. Since then, he has become a mainstay of the side.
Kompany’s possession-based, attacking football has allowed the left-back to get forward regularly from his position within the back four.
In total, he has scored four goals and provided five assists from 29 appearances in the Championship. This includes a brace against Swansea — one of which was a long-range free-kick.
Developing role
Operating as a flying full-back earlier on in the season, the emergence of left-winger Anass Zaroury has seen Maatsen stay back more where he can dictate play from deep with his range of passing.
He has even been used by Kompany on the left of a back three, which shows the faith that the manager has in the pint-sized player from a defensive perspective.
On his future, 20-year-old Maatsen said: “This one is really focusing on my development, where I can be in the next step, whether it’s Chelsea in a few months or whenever.
“That’s why I chose to come here for one more year in the Championship, to make sure I got more experience with a different kind of pressure on myself, and it’s gone well so far.
“So I just want to continue these good steps going forward and see what happens after the end of the season.”
Permanent deal
The next step up for Maatsen is the Premier League. It is just a question as to which top-flight club he ends up at.
Burnley are 12 points clear at the top of the Championship and will surely secure promotion. They are reported to be keen to make this loan deal permanent.
A return to Chelsea might appeal to Maatsen but with Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella already at Stamford Bridge, the pathway to the first-team squad looks like it is blocked for at least another season.
He is contracted at the Blues until 2024, with the option to extend by a year. Another loan is possible but if they want to get a premium transfer fee, this could be the summer to sell.
A compromise could be to sell with a buy-back clause, as was the case when Chelsea let Tino Livramento join Southampton in 2021.
Whether he is loaned out again or is available to buy, Burnley will be desperate to keep a player that could attract interest from other Premier League clubs.
