Borussia Dortmund announced on Friday that it had signed defender Ian Maatsen on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.
The Dutch youth international made his Premier League debut last August and has made 12 league appearances this season.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said: “Due to the current situation of our team, we decided to work in the left-back position this winter.” He said in a statement. “Ian fits our profile with his strengths.”
He added: “He has great speed, a strong left foot, and he can play in different positions.”
Mattsen, 21, is Dortmund’s second signing in the January transfer window, after Jadon Sancho returned to the club on loan from Manchester United on Thursday.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic told reporters on Friday that he did not rule out the possibility of Sancho making his debut for the club in their match against Sancho. Darmstadt on saturday.
– “I’m back”: Sancho echoes Michael Jordan with the transfer announcement
“We’re happy that Jadon is finally with us. He’s had a lot of fun on the training pitch. He’s healthy, he’s trained a lot in the last few weeks. We’ll use the session again today and see how far he’s come,” Terzic said.
Dortmund, runner-up in the German League last season, struggled in the league and is ranked fifth, 15 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen and six points behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig, which occupies last place in the Champions League.
However, they have qualified for the Champions League knockout stage where they will face PSV Eindhoven – one of Maatsen’s youth clubs – in the round of 16 next month.
The German Football League resumes on Friday after a three-week winter break.