Dean Huijsen with Justin Kluivert
Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Bournemouth attacker Justin Kluivert has made a big claim about the future of his Cherries teammate Dean Huijsen.
The pair were on opposing sides on Sunday night, as Kluivert’s Netherlands fell to defeat against Huijsen’s Spain in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with penalties being needed to separate the two countries.
The Spanish centre-back is expected to be at transfer tug-of-war at the end of the season, with Liverpool’s name in the hat amongst Europe’s elite.
Fabrizio Romano was the first to report Huijsen’s £50 million release clause, confirming that it will become active this summer.
Although Bournemouth is keen to keep him by proposing a new contract, his chances of staying appear low due to strong interest from elite clubs.
Since arriving from Juventus for £13 million in 2024, Huijsen has played a key role in Bournemouth’s solid defensive performances this season.
His impressive statistics highlight why top clubs are vying for his signature:
Dean Huijsen Per 90 Percentile
Non-Penalty Goals 0.17 99
Shot-Creating Actions 1.67 97
Progressive Passes 4.48 80
Progressive Carries 1.44 91
Interceptions 1.90 96
Clearances 5.69 89
Blocks 1.67 89
Aerials Won 2.36 66
*Player compared to positional peers in Men’s Big 5 Leagues, UCL, UEL over the last 365 days. Based on 1566 minutes played [Fbref].
Now Justin Kluivert, speaking to Radio Marca after the defeat to Spain, believes that his teammate won’t be a Bournemouth defender past this season.
“Dean Huijsen will not be with us next season,” he admitted in Valencia.
Furthermore, Marca add in their own report on the matter that the teenager has impressed Real Madrid directors:
“MARCA is in a position to assure that the Bournemouth centre-back has impressed, not the coaches, because they already knew what he was capable of, but the directors of the Madrid entity, although they are not the only ones.”
As mentioned, Liverpool will be far from the only side looking to do some shopping on the south coast this summer.
Huijsen has had an outstanding debut Premier League season since joining Bournemouth from Juventus for just £12.6 million last summer.
At 6’5″, the Spain international is known for his versatility and technical ability, excelling in playing the ball out from the back and did not look out of place in such a high-profile clash vs the Netherlands.
😱 Justin Kluivert, compañero de Dean Huijsen en el Bournemouth, con @matoribio85
“Yo sé que el próximo año no está con nosotros”
📻https://t.co/NLZYepZL3K pic.twitter.com/UPUaf3cI0J
— Radio MARCA (@RadioMARCA) March 24, 2025
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