Aston Villa complete £37.5m deal for Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen

Aston Villa have agreed a £37.5 million deal with Ian Maatsen from Chelsea.

The Dutch left-back only needs to clear personal terms to complete a move to Villa Park.

Borussia Dortmund tried to convert Maatsen’s season-long loan into a permanent transfer, but the Germans struggled to meet Chelsea’s asking price.

Now Villa wants to pounce on the 22-year-old, who was called up to the Dutch squad for the 2024 European Championship as a replacement for an injured player.

A move for Maatsen to Villa would be a huge advantage for Chelsea as they continue their search for a new striker this summer.

The Blues are still considering a move for Jhon Duran from Villa after exploratory talks with the Birmingham team.

If Villa can strike a deal for Maatsen, Chelsea could save some money on the potential transfer fee for 20-year-old Colombian striker Duran.

Former Burnley and Coventry loanee Maatsen helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final in an impressive season with the Bundesliga club.

Villa are apparently confident of convincing Maatsen to join the resurgent team after Unai Emery led the club to a hugely impressive fourth-place finish in the just-concluded season.

Villa chiefs believe the chance of another Champions League season and Emery’s optimistic approach are key selling points that could sway Maatsen.