Real Madrid has completed the signing of 20-year-old center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The Spanish club reportedly paid his $50 million release clause, securing the defender on a contract until summer 2030. Huijsen`s move to Real Madrid follows just one season at Bournemouth, where he arrived from Juventus for approximately $15 million. This transfer marks a significant step in his young career. Real Madrid is anticipating a summer of major changes, including Carlo Ancelotti`s departure to coach the Brazil national team from May 26, and the expected announcement of club legend Xabi Alonso as his successor.
With Xabi Alonso set to take the helm before the summer`s FIFA Club World Cup, significant transfer activity is anticipated at Real Madrid in the coming weeks, beginning with Huijsen and potentially including Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to join on a free transfer. Several clubs were interested in signing Huijsen this summer, which is understandable given his performance in his debut Premier League season, where he even scored three goals. Teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were linked before Real Madrid entered the race for the former Juventus defender. Here`s a closer look at Huijsen`s profile:
Early Career
Huijsen was born in Amsterdam in 2005. In 2024, he obtained Spanish citizenship and decided to represent Spain internationally, making his official debut in March 2025. At age five, he moved with his family to Marbella, Spain, where he began playing football before joining the Malaga academy.
In 2021, aged 16, he moved to Juventus in Turin, initially joining their U17 squad but quickly moving up to play for the Juventus second team in Italy`s third division. During the 2023-24 season, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri occasionally included him in the senior squad, and he made his Serie A debut against AC Milan in October 2023. This 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. Mourinho praised Huijsen before his arrival, stating he had “10 minutes of football in Serie A, but he`s one of the biggest prospects… He will be a very great player in the future.” Mourinho was dismissed shortly after, but his successor Daniele De Rossi showed confidence in Huijsen. By the end of the season, Huijsen had played 14 games for Roma, scoring two goals. He returned to Juventus in summer 2024, but in July, Juventus agreed terms with Bournemouth for his permanent transfer to the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
Huijsen`s Strengths
Huijsen is considered a modern, aggressive defender who frequently steps out of the defensive line to intercept passes or challenge attackers before they receive the ball, a common trait among players in his role. Standing at 6-foot-6, he effectively uses his height in aerial duels, achieving a 59.3% success rate in the Premier League this season, placing him among the league`s top defenders in this regard. As a modern defender, Huijsen is also capable of occasionally operating outside his traditional position, following strikers into midfield areas, which aligns well with an aggressive tactical approach like the one Xabi Alonso employed at Bayer Leverkusen.
He is comfortable playing with both feet, and his pass completion rate (84.3%) is the highest among Bournemouth players who started more than two Premier League games. This proficiency with the ball allows his build-up play to be a significant asset, particularly his ability to bypass the midfield line with accurate passes.
Huijsen`s Weaknesses
Given his young age, there are aspects of Huijsen`s game that can still be refined. Discipline is one area; 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 committed (90). While he coped reasonably well with the physicality of the English league, his speed is an area for improvement. He could potentially be exposed by a high defensive line, which is a tactic Xabi Alonso is likely to use. Overall, he is already a remarkably mature player for his age and professional experience. There is a strong likelihood he can develop into a great player at Real Madrid, especially working under Xabi Alonso, known for significantly improving young talents during his time in Germany.
How he fits in at Real Madrid
Real Madrid, known as `Los Blancos`, are expected to make several adjustments to their defensive line this summer, particularly at center-back where they may look to sign at least two players. The club faced significant issues in this area during the current season due to injuries, with Eder Militao missing 49 games and Dani Carvajal sidelined for 53. This has left the current defense less than optimally staffed.
Carlo Ancelotti was forced to deploy midfielders like Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in defensive roles due to the limited availability of defenders. He also frequently relied on Raul Asencio, who only made his club debut this season and often partnered with Antonio Rudiger throughout the 2024-25 campaign, while Jesus Vallejo served as a backup, playing only two La Liga matches for a total of 36 minutes.
For these reasons, Huijsen is likely to become a key player under Xabi Alonso. However, the exact amount of playing time he receives will likely depend on whether Real Madrid signs additional defenders this summer.
