Chelsea loan Army: How Ian Maatsen has got on at Burnley

While CFC fans may be finding it difficult to watch an inconsistent, and somewhat pedestrian side week in and week out, the future is clearly bright, and Maatsen is a perfect example of that. Maatsen is producing on both ends of the pitch, sitting at the top of the league leaders’ list in tackles and interceptions while finding ways to whip in precise crosses with his left foot. He has followed up a sublime campaign with Coventry City in the Championship with one that has shown he is progressing in the right direction.

Last season with the Sky Blues, Maatsen was top-five in total minutes in the Championship, finishing with 80 shot-creating actions, and sitting second on the team with 129 tackles plus interceptions. His numbers with five months left in the season in 2022/23 are on pace to surpass those of his previous campaign, proving it is time for a move in the upwards direction.

For the past three seasons, Maatsen has been out on loan, spending one season in League One, and two in the second tier of English football. There is plenty of season left for the Clarets as they fight to remain in the automatic promotion places, but from what we have seen from Maatsen, this could be a player that Chelsea may not be able to afford to add to a long list of departing academy stars. He is dynamic with the ball at his feet and afraid to take players on in order to create an opportunity in the final third. His awareness, vision, and speed with and without the ball have molded him into one of the brightest young Dutch players of this generation.