Ian Maatsen reveals stance on permanent Borussia Dortmund transfer
- Maatsen joined Dortmund on a six-month loan from Chelsea
- Loan does not include the option for a permanent transfer
- Dutch full-back signed a new contract with Chelsea with a £35m release clause
By Tom Gott
Ian Maatsen has confirmed his interest in remaining with Borussia Dortmund on a permanent basis when his loan from Chelsea expires this summer.
The Dutch full-back joined Dortmund on a six-month loan which does not include the option for a permanent transfer, with the German side refusing to meet Chelsea's demands of an obligatory purchase clause.
To facilitate the deal, Maaten agreed to sign a new Chelsea contract until 2026, but that new deal includes a release clause of £35m which will become active in the summer.
Whether Dortmund will trigger the clause remains to be seen but Maatsen has made it clear he would be keen to stay at the Signal Iduna Park for a little while longer.
"I feel like I’ve been playing with these guys for many years," Maatsen said. "I’m leaving all options open. I would like to come back. Why not? We’ll see what the future brings."
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Chelsea had to trigger an extension clause in Maatsen's last contract to prevent him from walking away on a free transfer but accepted a bid from Burnley during the summer which would have seen him make a £31.5m switch to Turf Moor in 2024.
Maatsen rejected the move but failed to break into Mauricio Pochettino's first team, featuring for 199 minutes across 12 appearances in the Premier League before Dortmund voiced a desire to get a deal done.
He has started Dortmund's last two Bundesliga games and grabbed his first assist in black and yellow in the recent 4-0 win over Koln.
Chelsea will sell another left-back, Lewis Hall, to Newcastle United for £28m at the end of the season if the on-loan youngster meets a target which reports suggest is very straightforward.
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