A strong stint on loan at Borussia Dortmund has seen Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen named in the official Champions League Team of the Year.
UEFA unveiled the XI on Monday with Maatsen taking up the left-back spot in a team dominated by the Germans and champions Real Madrid.
Dortmund are expected to sign Maatsen on a permanent deal this summer after he joined on loan for the second half of the campaign, making seven appearances and scoring once in Europe for the runners-up.
Mats Hummels, Marcel Sabitzer and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel are the other Borussia players to make the Team of the Year, as selected by UEFA's Technical Observer panel.
👕✨ Introducing the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, as selected by UEFA's Technical Observer panel.#UCL || #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/njYgChEOoc
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 3, 2024
Jude Bellingham, named the tournament’s Young Player of the Year, leads a quartet of Real Madrid players featuring final matchwinner Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Player of the Year Vinicius Jr.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane makes the cut after eight goals in 12 games to finish as joint-top scorer alongside Kylian Mbappe. However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward misses out on a place in the XI.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden completes the attack with PSG’s Vitinha in midfield, meaning the likes of Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, Porto winger Galeno, Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino all miss out despite strong campaigns.
Fede Valverde’s powerful volley against Man City in the quarter-finals has also been named the Champions League Goal of the Season.
Champions League 2023-24 Team of the Year: Kobel; Carvajal, Rudiger, Hummels, Maatsen; Vitinha, Sabitzer; Foden, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Kane
