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

Currently, 22 Chelsea players on the men’s side are out on loan, attempting to move their professional careers in the right direction. Levi Colwill is now coming into his own under Roberto De Zerbi, having accumulated 90 minutes in six out of the last seven matches for Brighton in all competitions. Over in the Championship, the 20-year-old Dutch wing-back, Ian Maatsen has been one of the most important players for promotion-bound Burnley under new manager Vincent Kompany. In his second consecutive season in the second-tier of English football, Maatsen has demonstrated he is ready for a potential loan move for the next campaign in the Premier League.

Kompany has started the Dutch wingback in 21 of the 22 contests in all competitions for the Clarets, netting four goals and four assists. His four assists stand second best among the Championship leaders. Even though his expected goals are below one this season, Maatsen has still been able to become a top-six goal scorer on the club that leads the second tier in goals scored. Playing predominantly at left-wing back in a back four, Maatsen has collected 56 shot-creating actions on the Clarets so far during this campaign, behind only three-year Premier League veteran, Josh Brownhill.

His show-stopping display against Swansea City to secure Burnely’s sixth straight win in the league produced two top-class goals with his strong left foot. A mesmerizing free kick and rocket into the top of the net within the first 22 minutes put him even more on the radar of clubs around England, especially the Blues who could use another young wingback with all of the injuries that have piled up in that position.

Following that outing, Kompany raved about the young CFC defender:

"“That second goal just traveled and kept going. Ian has given so much defensively and then he was able to add that to his game – not many players can give you that.”"

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.

As an impactful defender in a dominant defense and a key contributor to the attack of Burnley, Maatsen has shown his ability to potentially be a part of the future of CFC on the left side of the defense. Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell stand in front of him, but if he is able to continue down the same path and production that has transpired this season in the top flight, Graham Potter or whoever is the manager of the Blues has no choice but to give him at least a shot in the first team.

Fans of the west London team have seen the positivity of bringing academy players into the first-team squad during cup matches, like Lewis Hall, and despite that, the club has been apprehensive to award one or two quality performances with consistent playing time. Whether it was Omar Hutchinson against Aston Villa in the friendly or Conor Gallagher providing that much-needed energy, academy players are more than capable of being in the plans of the future of this club.

Reece James is no doubt the future on the right-hand side, and despite the acquisition of two quality left-backs over the last few seasons, injuries have decreased the depth. Maatsen could need a loan in the Premier League before his involvement with the Chelsea first team, like Colwill, but this campaign under a talented manager and within a top side has been one filled with development and eagerness to contribute to the Blues in the near future.