Dean Huijsen has agreed to join Real Madrid, ending any prospect of a move to Arsenal, who had tracked the defender closely this season.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is challenged by Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on May 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Arsenal have ended their pursuit of Dean Huijsen after the Bournemouth defender agreed terms with Real Madrid, with the Spanish club now finalising a €58 million deal that will see the 19-year-old fulfil what has long been described as a personal ambition, despite him only being 19.
Huijsen, who spent half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Roma from Juventus before completing a permanent move to Bournemouth last summer, had attracted strong interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, with all three clubs exploring deals in recent months.
Arsenal had positioned themselves early, hoping to capitalise on the uncertainty around Madrid’s defensive recruitment and the player’s Premier League adaptation.
But according to AS, the defender is said to have given a definitive “yes” to Madrid at the start of the week, with sources close to the negotiation stating, “It is in the final phase.”
The agreement will see Madrid pay the €58 million fee in three instalments, a structure Bournemouth are understood to have accepted.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on May 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Juventus will receive 10 percent of the fee as part of their sell-on clause, with a further five percent going to Málaga, the player’s former academy club.
Despite interest from England, Huijsen made clear to his representatives and to Madrid that his priority was to join the Spanish giants. Ali Barat, who handled the negotiations, and the player’s father Donny Huijsen, travelled to Madrid last week to finalise contractual terms.
The personal agreement, reportedly reached at the start of the week, closed the door remaining in the Premier League.
For Arsenal, the decision marks the end of another long-running recruitment thread. The club had tracked Huijsen since his breakthrough at Juventus and continued to monitor his development closely during his time in the Premier League. Sources at Arsenal believed his profile fit well with their existing group of defenders, offering a combination of physicality, comfort on the ball and tactical intelligence. But as early as last month, there was growing awareness in north London that Huijsen’s preference for Madrid was likely to prove decisive.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Liverpool had also made an effort to position themselves for a move, but Madrid’s early intervention, backed by incoming manager Xabi Alonso, turned the tide. Alonso, who is set to take over officially on 1 June, has already spoken directly to Huijsen and described him as central to his plans. The conversation is understood to have reinforced the player’s decision.
While Chelsea have not entirely ruled themselves out in the event of a late complication, all indications suggest that the player’s mind is made up and Madrid’s formal proposal is complete.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to focus on alternative centre-back options ahead of the summer window. The club are also prioritising additions in midfield and the forward line, but Huijsen’s withdrawal from the market will lead to a shift in defensive targets, with Sporting’s Ousamane Dembele scouted against recently.
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