**Chelsea and other Premier League clubs may miss out on Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, according to _The Athletic_‘s David Ornstein.**
The Blues, along with Liverpool and Newcastle, have been credited with an interest in the Spaniard but, in a [Q&A](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6218536/2025/03/20/liverpool-transfer-news-dean-huijsen-chelsea-enzo-maresca-ask-ornstein/), Ornstein said that the centre-back may leave the Vitality Stadium for a club abroad:
“For any top teams seeking a centre-back, Huijsen will likely be on the radar. He is expected to move for that £50million ($64.8m) clause, which is active in the summer, and I’m sure Bournemouth, the player and his suitors would ideally like some clarity sooner rather than later so they can plan accordingly.”
“We know Chelsea have been looking closely at him, Newcastle have been heavily linked but not sure I see that one materialising, and even massive clubs on the continent like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are being mentioned in certain quarters. Some I speak to think he could well move overseas but nothing seems to be set in stone yet.”
Chelsea need a top-class centre-back
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One of the glaring weaknesses in Enzo Maresca’s side is the lack of leadership in the middle of defence. Levi Colwill has got a lot of potential but he is rather inconsistent.
Wesley Fofana, meanwhile, does bring stability to the team when he is available, but his poor fitness record means it is difficult to rely upon him.
Huijsen has shown during his short time in English football that he can be a commanding presence at the back, but the likelihood of him moving to Stamford Bridge looks low currently.
The defender is keen on moving back to Spain
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After being handed his first senior cap at international level on Thursday night, Huijsen was asked whether he’d be open to joining a club like Real Madrid. He didn’t hide his interest with his reply:
“I’m not thinking about that right now I’m thinking about ending the season well, and I hope I do. Then when the time comes, we’ll see. It makes you proud that such a big team is interested in you. I’ll keep working, and being humble.”
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