Real Madrid is reportedly finalizing the signing of 20-year-old center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. According to various reports, the Spanish club is close to agreeing terms with the player`s representatives after triggering his $50 million release clause.
Huijsen is considered a promising young European talent. He joined Bournemouth from Juventus last season for approximately $15 million and is now set for a significant move to Real Madrid. This summer is expected to bring further changes at the club, including the anticipated departure of Carlo Ancelotti on May 26th and the potential arrival of Xabi Alonso as the new manager.
With Xabi Alonso potentially taking the helm before the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid is expected to be active in the transfer market in the coming weeks. Huijsen`s signing could be one of several moves.
Several clubs expressed interest in signing Huijsen this summer, reflecting his impressive performance in his debut Premier League season where he scored three goals. Premier League rivals like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were among the potential suitors before Real Madrid entered and took the lead in the pursuit of the former Juventus player.
Here`s more information about Huijsen:
Early Career
Born in Amsterdam in 2005, Huijsen acquired Spanish citizenship in 2024 and chose to represent Spain internationally, making his official debut in March 2025. He moved to Marbella, Spain, with his family at age five and began his football journey there before joining the Malaga academy.
At 16, in 2021, he moved to Juventus in Italy. Although initially intended for the U-17 squad, he quickly progressed to the Juventus Next Gen team (the second team playing in Serie C). In the 2023-24 season, manager Massimiliano Allegri occasionally included him in the senior squad, leading to his Serie A debut against AC Milan in October 2023.
This match turned out to be his sole official appearance for the Juventus first team. In January 2024, he was loaned to AS Roma at the suggestion of then-coach Jose Mourinho. Mourinho praised Huijsen before his arrival, stating:
“Dean Huijsen has 10 minutes of football in the Serie A, but he`s one of the biggest prospects in football. He will be a very great player in the future.”
Mourinho`s assessment proved accurate. Despite Mourinho`s subsequent departure, his successor Daniele De Rossi also showed faith in Huijsen, who went on to play 14 games and score two goals for Roma by the season`s end. In the summer of 2024, after returning to Juventus, he was sold to Bournemouth in July, beginning his Premier League spell for the 2024-25 season.
Huijsen`s Strengths
Huijsen is viewed as a modern, aggressive defender. He frequently steps out of the defensive line to intercept passes or engage attackers before they control the ball. Standing at 6-foot-6, his height is a major asset in aerial duels, where he boasts a 59.3% success rate this Premier League season, placing him among the league`s top defenders in this category. His versatility allows him to occasionally follow forwards into midfield, fitting well with an aggressive, high-pressing system, similar to the style Xabi Alonso employed at Bayer Leverkusen.
He is comfortable using both feet, contributing to his high pass completion rate (84.3%), the best among Bournemouth players with more than two Premier League starts. This proficiency makes him valuable in build-up play, enabling him to bypass the midfield with accurate passes and contribute to the team`s attack.
Huijsen`s Weaknesses
Given his youth, there are areas for development. His aggressive style sometimes leads to disciplinary issues, evidenced by six yellow cards this Premier League season (five for tactical fouls) and ranking third in the league for total fouls (90). Although he adapted well to the Premier League`s physicality, improving his speed would be beneficial, particularly against pacey forwards, which is crucial if the team employs a high defensive line, a tactic Xabi Alonso is known for.
Overall, he demonstrates maturity beyond his years given his professional experience. There`s significant potential for him to have a successful career at Real Madrid, especially under Xabi Alonso, known for developing young talent in Germany.
How He Fits at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is anticipated to strengthen its defense this summer, particularly at center-back, likely needing at least two new signings due to significant injury issues this season. Key players like Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal missed extensive periods (49 and 53 games respectively), leaving the defense stretched.
Manager Ancelotti was forced to use midfielders like Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in defensive positions due to the lack of fit defenders. He also relied on Raul Asencio, who debuted this season and frequently partnered with Antonio Rudiger, while Jesus Vallejo saw very limited action (two La Liga matches, 36 minutes total) as a backup.
Consequently, Huijsen could become an important player under Xabi Alonso. However, his playing time will likely depend on whether Real Madrid signs additional defenders this summer.
