Ian Maatsen slammed over Aston Villa transfer decision by ex-Tottenham star
Ian Maatsen’s ideal move to Aston Villa in the summer transfer window hasn’t quite worked out for him.
The left-back switched Stamford Bridge for Villa Park last summer in a bid for more game time as both Chelsea and Villa bolstered their profit and sustainability causes, with Omari Kellyman going in the opposite direction.
However, Maatsen hasn’t been able to kick on in the way that many people thought he would after an impressive loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last season.
Maatsen was a regular for the German giants and seemed ready to take the next step by playing weekly football on a permanent contract, and he opted for Villa to be that team.
Rafael Van der Vart has questioned Ian Maatsen
The £35million defender has struggled to dislodge Lucas Digne out of Unai Emery’s team, with the France international having stepped up his game in the face of competition.
Maatsen is back at Villa as club football resumes following what was a positive international break for him on a personal note.
| Club stats 2024-25 | Maatsen |
| Minutes Played | 1,316 |
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
The full-back scored his first-ever international goal for the Netherlands, but former Tottenham midfielder Rafael Van der Vart isn’t sure Maatsen made the right move joining the Villans.
He told Voetbal Primeur, “I think he made the wrong choice by choosing Aston Villa. He has to play, play, play.
“He was really good at Dortmund, and then he chooses England, probably more money, and they are really building something up.”
Ian Maatsen is struggling for minutes at Villa Park
The former Chelsea defender might have played 35 times this season for Villa, but he has only managed to start 11 of those games.
It’s a concerning situation for someone who wants to kick on and become a regular in the team, especially since he’s only completed 90 minutes once in the Premier League.
Whether Maatsen is willing to stay and fight for his place in Emery’s team will remain to be seen, but if he wants to have an international career at the level of Van der Vart, then more game time will be necessary.