‘He really gets into the details’: Aston Villa’s Dutch left-back signs a new deal until 2032 and credits Emery

Ian Maatsen has signed a new contract with Aston Villa, and the Netherlands left-back says Unai Emery’s attention to detail is a big reason he wants to stay.

Villa announced the deal on Wednesday. The club did not give the length, but the new terms are reported to run until the end of the 2031-32 season.

It comes a day after Villa kept Victor Lindelof until 2028, so Emery is using the international break to tie down more of the squad that won the Europa League last season.

Why did Maatsen sign a new Aston Villa contract?

The 24-year-old recently made his 100th appearance for the club, having joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2024. Speaking to Villa’s media team after signing, he put the decision down to the direction of the club and the manager.

He said: “First of all, the way the club is progressing, in a good way. A big part of this way is the coach, the vision he sees in this club, and everyone around him, and also my teammates.”

“I really enjoy it. He’s really demanding, but he’s a very good coach who really gets into the details. He wants to make sure everyone is on the same page with the same plan, and it works. It’s a very good relationship.”

“I feel at home here and I can develop here. It motivates me to bring this club to special things with them, and that’s the reason I signed the contract.”

The Europa League final is still his best memory

Asked for his favourite moment in claret and blue, Maatsen went straight to last season’s Europa League final and the trophy parade that followed.

“On the pitch is probably the Europa League final. A big trophy for the club. We hadn’t won [a trophy] in many years, so it was a good contribution for us as a team and a group, but also for the fans, for the club itself,” he said.

“The parade, to celebrate with the fans, the people in Birmingham, the local people, it was a very special day. You see how big Birmingham is and we have a lot of Aston Villa fans.”

Is he a regular starter under Emery?

Not always. Starts are not guaranteed when Matteo Ruggeri is fit, and Maatsen has had to take his chances when they come. He did impress in the 2-1 win over Manchester City last month, though.

That is what makes a deal this long interesting. Villa are not paying for a guaranteed starter. They are paying for a 24-year-old with 100 games for the club already, who knows Emery’s system inside out, and whose value is only going up.

Verdict: smart business from Villa

Villa sit tenth after ten games and are also juggling a Champions League campaign, so depth at full-back matters. Locking Maatsen in until 2032 protects them in two ways: he stays as cover and competition for Ruggeri, and if a big club comes for him later, Villa set the price.

His words about Emery matter too. Players stay where they feel they are improving, and Maatsen clearly believes that is happening at Villa Park.