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Aston Villa's Maatsen Struggles Lead to Likely Benching Against West Ham
Manager Unai Emery has no choice but to drop the £37.5m defender after poor performances.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:05pm
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Aston Villa defender Ian Maatsen, who joined the club from Chelsea for £37.5 million in 2024, has struggled with inconsistent form and subpar statistics this season. Manager Unai Emery is likely to bench Maatsen for the upcoming Premier League match against West Ham due to the player's poor performances, including a low 6.2 rating in a recent Europa League match against Lille.
Why it matters
Maatsen was once considered a player with immense potential, earning a spot in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season. However, his Villa career has not lived up to expectations, with the 24-year-old fighting a persistent battle with Lucas Digne for the starting left-back spot. Emery demands more from his players, and Maatsen's lack of offensive and defensive contributions have made him difficult to justify in the starting lineup.
The details
Maatsen's league rating this season is just 6.63, with zero assists, 22% crossing accuracy, and only 0.5 interceptions per game. In the recent Europa League match against Lille, he received a 6.2 rating, the lowest on the pitch, and was dribbled past twice while making just two defensive contributions. Similar struggles were evident in Villa's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea earlier in March, where Maatsen earned a 5.8 rating, recorded 0% crossing accuracy, and lost four ground duels.
- Maatsen joined Aston Villa from Chelsea in 2024 for a reported fee of around £37.5 million.
- In February 2026, reports indicated that Maatsen was unhappy at Villa due to his inconsistent playing time, and Juventus had monitored him as a potential swap target for Douglas Luiz.
- The recent Europa League match against Lille and the Premier League defeat to Chelsea took place in March 2026.
The players
Unai Emery
The manager of Aston Villa who must make the decision to bench Ian Maatsen for the upcoming match against West Ham.
Ian Maatsen
A 24-year-old Dutch defender who joined Aston Villa from Chelsea in 2024 for a reported fee of around £37.5 million.
Lucas Digne
Maatsen's teammate at Aston Villa, who has been competing with him for the starting left-back spot.
What they’re saying
“Maatsen has worked hard with individual coaches. The manager claimed the defender was 'defending much better than last year.'”
— Unai Emery, Aston Villa Manager
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
