Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen is delighted to be playing for Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have now officially announced the signing of Chelsea left back Ian Maatsen on loan; a move that has been highly anticipated by the fans. Dortmund's need for full back reinforcements this season has been very evident, and with injuries and international duty furthering the hole the club found themselves in regarding these positions, a deal for Maatsen was arranged with Chelsea, which will run through the summer.

Maatsen's first interview with the club offered quite a bit of insight as to just how keen the player was to make the move, with Maatsen indicating he felt like he needed to come to Dortmund in order to further his development and show people what he's capable of on the pitch:

"When I was on the plane to Dortmund, it just felt right. Now I've seen the training ground and I have to say I'm ready to show everyone that I can play soccer. It's wonderful to be able to play for this club."

- Ian Maatsen

In terms of his qualities, Maatsen describes himself as a player who likes to have the ball. The offensive part of his game will be something Dortmund certainly benefit from, as they've lacked attacking threat in this position since the departue of Raphaël Guerreiro in the summer. Maatsen has also stated that he is very much commited to the defensive end of his game too, however.

Dortmund will certainly provide a massive stage for Maatsen to make his mark and showcase his skills, a fact that isn't lost on the player. The Yellow Wall was, as with most players, one of the first things he thought of when Dortmund made contact:

"When I thought of Borussia Dortmund, the first thing I thought of was the stadium, the "Yellow Wall" as they call it. I'm here now and I'm delighted to be playing for this big club."

- Ian Maatsen

Maatsen also touched upon his first contact with Edin Terzić since joining, with Dortmund's head coach noting that the club were here to work with him, but ultimately it is up to Maatsen to really show what he is capable of. In many ways, this is true for not only Maatsen, but the players Dortmund already has under contract long term.

While Maatsen's deal doesn't have an outright clause stating the club have an option to buy the player, his new Chelsea contract does offer Dortmund first refusal on the player's release clause. This is something the likes of Edin Terzić and Sebastian Kehl will have in the back of their minds as Maatsen's time with Dortmund unfolds. Players like Ramy Bensebaini will be Maatsen's main competition for minutes this season, but will also have to keep in mind the prospect that the Dutchman may end up staying long term.

This, coupled with the return of Tom Rothe this coming summer, who has been amazing for Holstein Kiel this season, will give Dortmund quite a few things to think about depending on how Maatsen performs. For now however, Maatsen's eagerness to prove himself bodes well for both player and club as they look to achieve their goals for the second half of the season.