Ian Maatsen signs new contract with Aston Villa

Ian Maatsen has signed a new contract with Aston Villa. The Netherlands international says the club’s direction and Unai Emery’s influence helped persuade him to continue at the club. Aston Villa announced the extension on Wednesday, keeping Maatsen within a project he says he believes in.

The defender pointed to the club’s progress, his coach’s vision and the environment built around him. He also highlighted the contribution of his teammates to that momentum. “First of all, the way the club is progressing, in a good way. A big part of that comes from the coach, the vision he has for this club, everyone around him, and also my teammates,” Maatsen said.

His relationship with Emery was also central to his decision. The Dutchman appreciates a demanding coach who focuses on detail and wants the group to work to a shared plan. “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,” he said.

Maatsen also says he feels at home at Aston Villa and sees it as a place where he can continue to develop. “I feel at home here and I can develop here. It motivates me to help this club achieve special things with them, and that’s the reason I signed,” he added. He wants to contribute to more significant moments while continuing his development under Emery.

Among his memories since joining, Villa’s European success stands out. Last season, the club’s Europa League triumph and the celebrations that followed made a particular impression on the defender. Maatsen named the final as a highlight: “On the pitch, it’s 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 from us as a team and a group, but also for the fans and the club itself.”

The parade in Birmingham is another memory he treasures. He described the day as special, shared with supporters and local people. For Maatsen, it showed the connection between Villa and the city: “You see how big Birmingham is and how many Aston Villa fans there are. It’s good for the city to celebrate with us. It was an amazing day.” The chance to help create more memories of that kind is part of what has strengthened his desire to stay.