Real Madrid has officially completed the signing of 20-year-old center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The Spanish giants finalized terms with the player`s representatives and agreed to meet his $50 million release clause. Huijsen, who has signed a contract valid until summer 2030, is seen as a promising young talent in European football. He only transferred to the English club from Juventus last season for approximately $15 million. Just one year later, he is making a significant move to Real Madrid.
The Spanish side is preparing for further major changes this summer. Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave Real Madrid starting May 26 to take over as the head coach of the Brazilian national team. Meanwhile, club owner Florentino Perez is expected to announce Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso as the club`s new manager.
With Xabi Alonso anticipated to lead Real Madrid ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, significant transfer activity is expected at Madrid in the coming weeks. This includes Huijsen`s arrival and potentially that of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is rumored to join the Spanish giants as a free agent. Several clubs were interested in signing Huijsen this summer, and his performance last Premier League season, where he scored three goals, makes it clear why. Teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were reportedly candidates to sign the former Juventus defender before Real Madrid entered the race. Here`s an overview of Dean Huijsen:
Early Career
Huijsen was born in Amsterdam in 2005. He obtained Spanish citizenship in 2024 and chose to represent the Spanish national team, making his official debut in March 2025. At the age of five, he moved with his family to Marbella in Spain, where he began playing football as a child before joining the Malaga academy.
In 2021, at 16, he moved to Turin after Juventus signed him for their U-17 team. However, he quickly progressed to play with the Juventus second team in the third division. During the 2023-24 season, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri occasionally included him in the first team, and he made his Serie A debut against AC Milan in October 2023.
That turned out to be his only official appearance for the Juventus first team. In January 2024, he was loaned to AS Roma at the suggestion of then-coach Jose Mourinho, who wanted him for the rest of the season. Mourinho publicly 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 prediction proved accurate. Although Mourinho was sacked days later, his successor Daniele De Rossi trusted Huijsen`s talent. By the end of the season, he had played 14 games and scored two goals. He returned to Juventus in summer 2024, but the Italian club agreed to terms with Bournemouth in July to sell him, leading to his move to the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
Huijsen`s Strengths
Huijsen is seen as a modern and assertive defender. He often steps out of the defensive line to intercept passes or engage strikers in duels before they receive the ball, a characteristic common among players in his position. Standing tall at 6-foot-6, he effectively uses his height in aerial duels, boasting a 59.3% success rate in the Premier League this season and ranking among the top defenders in this area. As a modern defender, Huijsen can adapt his role, sometimes following strikers into midfield, which fits an aggressive team style like the one Xabi Alonso employed at Bayer Leverkusen.
Huijsen is also comfortable playing the ball with both feet. His pass completion rate is the highest among Bournemouth players who started more than two Premier League games (84.3%). This skill makes him a valuable asset in the build-up phase, especially if he is tasked with bypassing the midfield line with his distribution.
Huijsen`s Weaknesses
Given his youth, there are areas for improvement in his game. Discipline is one, as his aggressive style led to six yellow cards in the Premier League this season, five of which were for tactical fouls. He also ranks third in the league for total fouls (90). While he handled the physical demands of the English league reasonably well at Bournemouth, his speed could improve. This could occasionally leave him exposed if the team plays a high defensive line, as Xabi Alonso might prefer.
Overall, he is already a mature player for his age and professional experience. There is a strong possibility he could have a successful career at Real Madrid, particularly under Xabi Alonso, who has a track record of developing young players during his time in Germany.
How He Fits at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is expected to make changes in the defensive department this summer, specifically at center-back, where they may sign at least two players due to the injury issues the squad faced this season. With Eder Militao missing 49 games and Dani Carvajal 53 due to injuries, the current defense has been stretched thin.
Coach Ancelotti had to deploy midfielders like Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in unconventional roles due to the lack of available defenders. He also relied heavily on Raul Asencio, who only debuted this season, often partnering with Antonio Rudiger for most of the 2024-25 campaign. Jesus Vallejo served as a backup option but played only two La Liga matches for a total of 36 minutes.
For these reasons, Huijsen is likely to become an important player under Xabi Alonso. However, the amount of game time he receives will probably depend on whether Real Madrid brings in additional defenders this summer.
Dominic Ashworth