While on vacation with his girlfriend Emely Tuinder in Greece, Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen was called up by coach Ronald Koeman to join the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.

Maatsen plays for Dortmund in the 2023–2024 season under a loan contract from Chelsea. After losing 0-2 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, the Dutch defender and his girlfriend went on vacation to the island of Mykonos, Greece.

On social networks, the 22-year-old player posted a photo of him relaxing on the Hermes yacht sold for more than 700,000 USD and enjoying a specially prepared lunch on board.

Maatsen posted a photo of his summer vacation with girlfriend Emely Tuinder in Greece on June 10, one day before being called up to join the Dutch team for Euro 2024. Photo: Instagram / Ian Maatsen

But Maatsen had to end this vacation early to go to the Dutch station to attend Euro 2024 in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the weather is forecast to be wet and gray in the coming weeks.

Maatsen joined Chelsea’s youth academy in 2018 and has only made 16 appearances for the first team. In the last four seasons, he played for Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, Burnley and Dortmund on loan.

In the 2023-2024 season, Maatsen scored three goals and assisted two in 23 matches, making a major contribution to helping Dortmund finish fifth in the Bundesliga and reach the Champions League final. The 22-year-old defender’s name on the Netherlands ‘ preliminary list for Euro 2024 has caused great controversy.

But Maatsen was called up at the last moment when the Netherlands had a personnel crisis. After the friendly match against Iceland 4-0 on June 10, the Netherlands removed Frenkie de Jong’s name from the Euro 2024 squad because the midfielder could not recover from his injury.

Maatsen passes the ball during Dortmund’s 0-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, London, England, on June 1. Photo: Pro Sports

Then, it was the turn of Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners to withdraw from the team due to injury before the friendly match against Iceland. Another pillar of the Netherlands, midfielder Marten De Roon, was also absent, despite having just contributed greatly to helping Atalanta finish fourth in Serie A and reach the Europa League final. But the midfielder was injured and missed both the final match against Leverkusen (3-0) and Euro 2024.

Other notable absences are Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber or Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee not being called up by coach Koeman.

At Euro 2024 , the Netherlands plays three Euro 2024 Group D matches against Poland on June 16, France on June 21 and Austria on June 25. The tournament includes 24 teams divided into six groups. The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the 1/8 round.