According to various reports, Real Madrid is close to completing the signing of 20-year-old center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The Spanish club is finalizing details with the player`s representatives after reportedly agreeing to meet his $50 million release clause.
Huijsen is considered a promising young European talent. Just last season, he transferred from Juventus to Bournemouth for approximately $15 million. A year later, he`s poised for a significant move to Real Madrid. This summer is expected to bring further major changes at the Spanish club, with Carlo Ancelotti set to depart for the Brazil national team coaching role, and club president Florentino Perez reportedly preparing to name club icon Xabi Alonso as the new manager.
With Xabi Alonso anticipated to take the helm before the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, Real Madrid is expected to be busy in the transfer market in the coming weeks. Huijsen`s arrival could be one of several, potentially including Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is reportedly set to join the Spanish giants as a free agent.
Several clubs were reportedly interested in signing Huijsen this summer, a testament to his impressive performances. In his debut Premier League season, he demonstrated his capabilities, even finding the net three times. Clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were mentioned as potential suitors before Real Madrid reportedly entered and accelerated their pursuit of the ex-Juventus defender.
Early career
Born in Amsterdam in 2005, Huijsen acquired Spanish citizenship in 2024 and chose to represent Spain internationally, making his senior debut for the national team in March 2025. At the age of five, he relocated with his family to Marbella, Spain, where he began his football journey before eventually joining the Malaga academy.
In 2021, at age 16, he moved to Turin after signing with Juventus for their U-17 squad. However, he quickly advanced to play with the Juventus Next Gen team (the club`s reserve side competing in Italy`s third division). In the 2023-24 campaign, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri occasionally involved him with the senior squad, leading to his Serie A debut against AC Milan in October 2023.
This debut turned out to be his only official appearance for the Juventus first team. In January 2024, he was loaned to AS Roma, a move reportedly recommended by then-Roma coach Jose Mourinho for the remainder 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 was indeed correct about his potential, though he was dismissed shortly after. His successor, Daniele De Rossi, showed confidence in Huijsen, who went on to play 14 games and score two goals for Roma by the season`s end. He returned to Juventus in the summer of 2024, but the Italian club reached an agreement with Bournemouth in July for his permanent transfer, sending him to the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
Huijsen`s strengths
Huijsen is recognized as a modern, aggressive defender. He frequently steps out of the defensive line to cut off passes or engage strikers in duels before they control the ball, a characteristic of many contemporary center-backs. Standing at 6-foot-6, his height is a major asset in aerial duels (with a 59.3% success rate in the Premier League this season), ranking him among the top defenders in this regard. His modern approach also allows him to sometimes move into midfield to track opponents, fitting well into an aggressive team setup, similar to the style Xabi Alonso implemented at Bayer Leverkusen.
Demonstrating comfort with both feet, Huijsen boasts the highest pass completion rate (84.3%) among Bournemouth players who started more than two Premier League matches this season. This technical ability makes him valuable in attack initiation, as his passing range can help his team bypass the midfield during build-up play.
Huijsen`s weaknesses
Given his youth, certain areas of his game still require development. His aggressive style sometimes leads to disciplinary issues; he received 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 committed (90). While he adapted reasonably well to the physicality of the Premier League, there is potential for improvement in his speed, which could leave him occasionally vulnerable when his team adopts a high defensive line, a tactical approach Xabi Alonso is likely to favor.
Despite areas for growth, he is considered relatively mature for his age and professional experience. There`s a strong possibility he could have a successful career at Real Madrid, particularly if managed by Xabi Alonso, known for his ability to develop young talent during his time in Germany.
How he fits in at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is anticipated to strengthen its defense this summer, particularly at center-back, where the club may look to sign at least two players. This necessity arises from the significant injury problems faced by Carlo Ancelotti`s squad this season. Key defenders like Eder Militao (missed 49 games due to injury) and Dani Carvajal (missed 53 games) have been sidelined extensively, leaving the defense depleted.
Due to the lack of fit defenders, Ancelotti was forced to deploy midfielders like Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in unconventional roles. The Italian coach also relied on Raul Asencio, who only made his senior debut for the club this season and frequently partnered Antonio Rudiger throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Backup option Jesus Vallejo had minimal involvement, appearing in just two La Liga matches for a total of 36 minutes.
Consequently, Huijsen is likely seen as a potentially important player under Xabi Alonso. However, his exact playing time may depend on other defensive signings Real Madrid makes this summer.
Dominic Ashworth