Borussia Dortmund Signs Defender Ian Maatsen On Loan From Chelsea

Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal to sign defender Ian Maatsen on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, the Bundesliga club said on Friday.

The 21-year-old Dutch youth international made his Premier League debut last August and has made 12 appearances in the league this season.

Maatsen impressed on loan at Burnley last season, scoring four times and laying on six assists in 42 appearances as he helped the side win promotion to the Premier League.

Dortmund have been looking for additional cover in defence, with wing-backs Ramy Bensebaini on Africa Cup duty and Julian Ryerson injured.

“I’m very happy that the loan worked out,” Maatsen said in a statement. “I promise that I will give everything for the team to be successful and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the Yellow Wall” of fans. A Netherlands youth international, the 21-year-old moved to Chelsea in 2018 and has made 16 first-team appearances.

“Because of our current squad situation we decided to act on the left back position this winter,” Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl said. “Ian fits our profile with his strengths.”

“He has a lot of pace, a strong left foot and can play various positions.”

Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up, Dortmund have struggled in the league and are currently in fifth place, 15 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen and six behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the last Champions League spot.

They have, however, advanced to the Champions League knockout stage where they face PSV Eindhoven — one of Maatsen’s youth clubs — in the round of 16 next month.

Dortmund have made a left-back and a winger their prime January targets and are close to securing Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho on loan. Sancho left Dortmund for United in July 2021 for an initial £73m.

The Bundesliga resumes later on Friday after a three-week winter break.