Dean Huijsen is set to get his dream move to Real Madrid after just one season in the Premier League, starring for Bournemouth and convincing Los Blancos to pay his £50million buy-out clause
Dean Huijsen centre-back of Spain and AFC Bournemouth during the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Spain and Netherlands at Estadio de Mestalla on March 23, 2025 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dean Huijsen centre-back of Spain and AFC Bournemouth during the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Spain and Netherlands at Estadio de Mestalla on March 23, 2025 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dean Huijsen is heading to Spain (
Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Real Madrid appear to have won the £50million race to sign Dean Huijsen. But the far bigger question is whether it is actually the right move for the highly-rated Bournemouth defender.
Real are supremely confident of beating off the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich to sign one of Europe’s top prospects. They have reached a club-to-club agreement and can trigger a £50m buy-out clause in the defender’s contract to bring him to the Bernabeu.
It is that clause which has made him such an attractive option for the top clubs because here is a composed, ball-playing and very effective centre half. He reads the game so well that he appears to always be a step ahead. If you look at him, he still looks so young and almost vulnerable because he is hardly the biggest centre half you will ever see.
You have to be strong both physically and mentally to survive in Madrid. It will be a huge test. Huijsen undoubtedly owes a huge debt of gratitude to Bournemouth for his year of development in the Premier League. And it should also be a reminder that you do not necessarily have to go to the biggest or most obvious club to get the best football education and grounding.
Real Madrid is a huge dream for so many players but it can also be a tough place - and only the strongest survive. Jude Bellingham is a brilliant example of a generational talent who just slotted in straight away. They love him in the Bernabeu. And no wonder.
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But this is a tough time for Real Madrid. A new manager coming in with Xabi Alonso, a team which needs a rebuild and there are no guarantees. Huijsen, 20, and his advisers are clearly very thoughtful when it comes to his career and what is the next step.
Arsenal and Liverpool were both keen. But the obvious obstacles were if he went to either club he would not play. Gabriel and Virgil van Dijk stood in the way. Is Chelsea the right club? It comes to something when Real Madrid can offer the trump card of more guaranteed playing time.
This is a player who was born in Amsterdam, a son of former professional Donny, moved to Spain aged five and said earlier this season: “My family is Dutch, but I feel Spanish.”
He has now represented Spain, went from Malaga to Juventus aged 16 and then to Bournemouth for £12.8m last July. A clause was written in. Huijsen started the season for Bournemouth then spent time on the bench. He was so highly-rated in Italy that I remember an Italian journalist pal ringing to find out what was going on.
Is Real Madrid the right move for Dean Huijsen? Have your say in the comments section.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa FC at Vitality Stadium on May 10, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Dean Huijsen has impressed for Bournemouth ( Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is such a smart operator. He clearly took him out the firing line, worked with him, coached him, Huijsen also watched from the sidelines and quickly developed into one of the best young defenders around.
That is the point really. If Huijsen had gone to a Chelsea last year, would he have got the same game time and also the same patience? History suggests not. Bournemouth was a brilliant move for him - and for Bournemouth.
It has been widely reported that Juventus get a ten per cent sell-on fee but Bournemouth get a big profit. But the right move, the right manager and the right opportunity is everything. There is a classic example in Viktor Gyokeres. He left Coventry for £15m in 2023. Premier League clubs were interested.
Andoni Iraola has mentored Dean Huijsen (
Image:
Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
However, Sporting Lisbon could offer game time, time to develop and a chance to put himself on the big stage. Now he is a hot property. Now he is valued at £60m-plus. If he had gone to a big Prem team then, it would have been harder to shine straight away, he might not have scored and then suddenly people are questioning why he was signed.
You have to say that is the value of good advice and probably a smart agent. The right move. But Real Madrid has to be the big gamble in Huijsen’s steady but outstanding upward trajectory. There have been few gambles so far, but imagine if you have a bad run of games in a bad team struggling to find its way.
Equally, he might not have played at Arsenal or Liverpool. It is a risky strategy but every move to date has been the right one.
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