Aston Villa are determined to hit the Champions League final to sign the Chelsea defender

Aston Villa are set to confirm the arrival of Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen after agreeing a £37.5m fee. to transfer money and a six-year contract.

The Dutch defender spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and helped the Bundesliga giants reach the Champions League final, having been given a few chances by former Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has previously insisted the club will do everything possible to sign Maatsen and fellow loanee Jadon Sancho on permanent deals this summer. However, it soon became clear that the German side would not bow to Chelsea’s demands and Villa stepped in to add strength to their European tour next season.

Fabrizio Romano He revealed that his medical was completed in the Netherlands camp for Euro 2024, in a transfer that will see Villa’s Omari Kellyman move to Stamford Bridge in a separate deal.

Chelsea and Villa have already reached an agreement for the transfer of Maatsen, which will improve the Blues’ finances as he is developed in their youth academy.

The 22-year-old made 12 Premier League appearances in the first half of the season but only one came as a start before his temporary switch to Dortmund. He quickly became a key member of their starting XI, registering two goals and two assists in 16 Bundesliga appearances.

Maatsen also featured in seven Champions League games after the turn of the year, scoring in a 4–2 quarter-final second leg win over Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea themselves have taken interest in other Villa players during the summer transfer window. The west London club have reportedly reached an ‘extensive’ deal with Unai Emery’s side to sign striker John Duran for around £40m.

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