Transfer Centre

Ian Maatsen opens door to Chelsea exit

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 17 November 2023

Chelsea wideman Ian Maatsen is reportedly weighing up his options regarding his future with the club, having failed to break into the first team so far this season.

Chelsea's Ian Maatsen has revealed that he may be open to leaving the club should he remain on the fringes of the first team.

The wideman spent last season on loan with Burnley, and then rejected the chance to join the Clarets permanently over the summer, after a £31.5m deal had been agreed.

Maatsen hoped to break into the Chelsea side, but he is yet to start a league game for the club despite impressing under Vincent Kompany last season.

The 21-year-old, who can be deployed as either a left-back or a left-winger, contributed to 10 goals as Burnley raced away with the Championship title last season.

However, speaking to Dutch outlet AD, Maatsen said he is "keeping all options open" regarding his future with the club.

The player also admitted that he may have to "make difficult choices later" as he has ambitions of breaking into the Dutch senior squad.

Maatsen is currently only an Under-21 international, and featured in the Netherlands' win over Gibraltar on Thursday evening.

Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen in action for Netherlands at the Under-17s World Cup in November 2019 © Reuters

While away on international duty though, he has targeted next summer's European Championship as something he wants to be involved in.

"The European Championship, that's what I'm secretly hoping for. I think I have also shown myself well to the national coach during training." Maatsen added.

However, the player himself does appreciate that he must play more at club level to be in contention of making Ronald Koeman's squad in Germany, revealing: "I know I have to play more for that, I still think it is possible at Chelsea."

Maatsen was also keen to point out that there are no hard feelings between him and manager Mauricio Pochettino though, claiming that "his door is open for everyone to talk" and that they have built up a good relationship since the Argentine arrived over the summer.

Having made only seven appearances in the league, all of which have come from the bench, Maatsen faces stiff competition from the likes of Raheem Sterling and Mykhaylo Mudryk on the wing and Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill at left-back.

Maatsen did not feature at all in Chelsea's two thrilling recent encounters with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, and was left out of their EFL Cup win over Blackburn Rovers, despite featuring from the outset in the two previous rounds.