Chelsea secretly activate young star's contract clause despite double rejection

Chelsea have extended Ian Maatsen's contract until June 2025 by activating a clause - with Barcelona keeping tabs on the talent.

Maatsen, 21, has been on Chelsea's books since 2018 and made his Premier League debut this season following impressive loan spells with Charlton, Coventry and Burnley. He helped the latter side pick up 101 points to win the Championship title last term.

Maatsen's existing deal was due to expire next summer, but the Blues have now exercised their option to keep him for longer. Barcelona were exploring the possibility of signing the emerging star on a free transfer next summer or in a cut-price deal in January.

The news comes after Maatsen rejected a permanent transfer to Burnley. Vincent Kompany's side had agreed a £31.5million deal with Chelsea on deadline day, but the Netherlands youth international turned down the move to fight for his place in London.

As first reported by the Evening Standard, Chelsea have activated a clause in Maatsen's contract to ensure he doesn't leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer next summer. The move has strengthened Chelsea's position, with Barcelona trying to snatch him.

It's believed Burnley are still keen on signing Maatsen on a permanent deal, with West Ham also interested. The exciting prospect, who has struggled to break into Mauricio Pochettino's team, has rejected two contract offers from Chelsea in recent weeks.

All of Maatsen's six Premier League appearances this season have come from the bench, with the left-back struggling to get ahead of fellow youngster Levi Colwill in the pecking order. Maatsen, who is known for his versatility, can also play on the wing.

Most of Maatsen's appearances for Burnley last season came at left-back. If he joins Barcelona, Maatsen would compete with exciting Spanish defender Alejandro Balde and former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso for a spot in Xavi Hernandez's starting XI.

Yet Maatsen's hopes of breaking into Chelsea's starting XI look slim with Colwill impressing and Ben Chilwell hoping to make his return from injury in December. Pochettino also has Marc Cucurella, who joined Chelsea from Brighton in a £62m deal in August 2022.

"We’ve got a lot of talent in the squad," Maatsen recently told Chelsea's media team. "It might be the youngest Chelsea team that I’ve known and it's really good that there's healthy competition. Everyone is competing, everyone is ready to go.

"I just have to put my head in the right place and every day set my standards high, never letting them drop. Some days will be difficult, of course, because nobody's perfect, but in those days I will try to do the same things that I've always done."