Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen might be young, but he is no ordinary talent. Rising through the ranks at Chelsea after arriving from the U-16s of PSV Eindhoven. Maatsen has been on the books of some of Europe’s biggest clubs for the majority of his career, first joining Feyenoord at the age of seven.

He fought his way back to become a shining example for many young talents, as the Dutch footballer’s path to the top was anything but smooth with regular loaning out. He even faced a period where his professional dreams seemed shattered before he went on to become one of the most coveted fullbacks of this generation.

This article delves into the key aspects of the Dutch talent’s life, exploring his early years, family background, net worth, career, and more.

Ian Maatsen | Early Life

Ian Maatsen was into football from a very young age. At the age of seven, he signed with one of the biggest clubs in the Netherlands, Feyenoord. However, they let him go quickly as they deemed him to be “too short” to play as a fullback. He joined, then had a 2-year spell at Sparta Rotterdam before being scooped up by PSV Eindhoven.

Ian Maatsen | Family

Ian Maatsen is of Surinamese descent and also has Indonesian blood from his ancestors, who came from Java. When talking about his family, he often brings up his memories with his brother Donovan, as they grew up together in Vlaardingen, where they shared a lot of good times. His father, Edward, was a military officer in the Dutch Marines, while his mother Wendy was an accounts manager. They both supported Maatsen’s career choice of football.

Ian Maatsen | Club Career

PSV Eindhoven

Ian Maatsen’s club career began as early as seven when he was signed by 16-time Eredivisie champions Feyenoord, but owing to his short stature, he was let go before he joined PSV Eindhoven in 2016. He played for PSV until he was signed into Chelsea’s academy in 2018.

Chelsea

Maatsen has taken Chelsea Academy by storm since his debut in September 2018. He bagged his first goal against Arsenal in a 3-1 victory. Impressing coaches, he quickly graduated to the development squad, even featuring in the Checkatrade Trophy. But his magic didn’t stop there, as he was instrumental in taking Chelsea’s youth team to the UEFA Youth League finals. With such impact and talent, this rising star’s future looks as bright as the Stamford Bridge lights.

The young Dutchman is an adaptable player who can play at left-back, wing-back, centre-back or in central midfield. Seeing his versatility, Chelsea decided to loan him to several clubs in order to develop his skills, following his excellent spell with Chelsea’s youth team. Ian Maatsen found moderate success during his loan spells in League One and the Championship.

Charlton Athletic

In October 2020, Maatsen moved on loan to League One Charlton Athletic, his first loan. While with the Addicks, Maatsen quickly became popular among supporters and made 35 outings in all competitions. He scored his first professional goal against Doncaster while playing as a right winger, a position he found himself in frequently while away.

Coventry City

Maatsen spent 2021/22 in the Championship with Coventry City, where he became a regular starter, making 41 appearances in all competitions, initially at left-back before moving further forward in the second half of the season, being named their Young Player of the Year.

Burnley

It was announced in July 2022 that he would be returning for a second campaign in the Championship, this time with Burnley, who had been relegated from the Premier League the previous season. His season at Turf Moor could hardly have gone better, with Burnley storming to promotion back to the Premier League with over 100 points gathered and Maatsen featuring in 42 games in all competitions, scoring four goals along the way. He was named Championship Team of the Season.

Borussia Dortmund

In January of 2024, he secured a move to German giants Borussia Dortmund and has wasted no time settling in. He went straight into the team, playing for 90 minutes in a 0-3 win over Darmstadt. In his next appearance, he assisted on a goal in a 0-4 win at Cologne. He has signed a contract extension until 2026 with Chelsea in 2023.

Ian Maatsen | International Career

Ian Maatsen has represented his country at different junior levels, from U15 to U21. In the 2019 Under-17 World Cup, Maatsen and the Netherlands fell short in the semi-final against Mexico, ultimately securing a fourth-place finish. He became a regular in the Under-21 side and played at the 2023 Under-21 European Championship, when the Dutch did not make it beyond the group stage. He received his first call-up to the senior squad in September 2023. However, the chances to come off the bench was not given to him.

Ian Maatsen | Statistics and Records

Ian Maatsen’s remarkable achievements extended to the Dutch U17 World Championship, the European U17 Championship, the English 2nd Tier Championship, and the Torneio Internacional Algarve U17.

In terms of his playing statistics, Maatsen has participated in 139 club matches, scoring 8 goals and making 11 assists. On the international stage, he has not yet represented the national team but has appeared in U15, U16, U17, U18, and U21 teams in 46 matches, finding the net 4 times.

Ian Maatsen | Net Worth

Based on his career earnings, his net worth should be around £2 million. Maatsen’s current salary is £572,000 per year and £11,000 per week. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €20.00 million.

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