Transfer News: Chelsea starlet Ian Maatsen joins Coventry City on loan
According to the club’s official site, promising Chelsea youngster Ian Maatsen has joined Championship side Coventry City on loan.
The 19-year-old is a Dutch youth international who was part of the squad that won the Under-17 European Championship in 2019. A talented young player, this will be the second time in two seasons that he has been allowed to go out on loan.
Maatsen spent the 2020/21 season on loan at League One club Charlton Athletic, where he made 35 appearances and caught the eye playing in the Championship. He is now set to make the move to a step higher. Hopefully, the trend will continue and he can make his bow in the Premier League next season.
A versatile player who often plays at left-back, the young Dutchman can play a plethora of positions all across the field. His adaptability and performances earned him rave reviews from both Lee Bowyer and then Nigel Adkins at Charlton.
Coventry are a largely lower-mid table team in the second flight of English football. There is little reason to suggest that Maatsen will not get regular playtime in their first team. Whether he can inspire them to improve upon last season’s 16th placed finish remains to be seen.
Maatsen signed his first professional contract at the club in March 2019 and made his senior debut in September of that same year when he played 24 minutes of Chelsea’s 7-1 Carabao Cup victory over Grimsby Town. He signed a four-year deal on his 18th birthday in 2020 and is contracted to the club until 2024.
Despite his potential, he will have to do better to succeed at a club such as Chelsea. The standards are high at Stamford Bridge and whether the youngster is one to make the cut remains to be seen.
More Chelsea News
- Chelsea fans urged to showcase proof of vaccination to be allowed into Stamford Bridge
- Transfer News: Chelsea target Jules Kounde dreaming of Real Madrid switch
- Sevilla reject Chelsea offer for Jules Kounde; want cash-only deal
Maatsen has represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, making a combined 33 games for the Oranje. He is however yet to receive his senior call up. At 19, time is on his side and it r remains to be seen just how he progresses at Coventry.
