Newcastle United have officially missed out on one of their top summer targets after a Spanish giant released an official statement.
Magpies’ sporting director Paul Mitchell is ready to bring new faces to the club in the upcoming transfer window, but he must look elsewhere after one target officially signed for a new club.
Newcastle United have not signed a single player to improve the starting XI in three transfer windows, but that does not seem to have fazed head coach Eddie Howe at all.
Howe has taken a weakened Newcastle side within two points of second in the Premier League table, on the cusp of Champions League qualification. Newcastle officials believe Champions League football will be a game-changer for the club, with the club certainly becoming a more attractive prospect to players with big reputations.
Newcastle have been told they need Champions League football to secure their top targets, but a new club statement has confirmed that the Magpies have already missed out on one player who looks destined for great things in the future.
Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Real Madrid confirm the signing of Dean Huijsen amid Newcastle United interest
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is widely recognised as one of the brightest young talents in Europe.
Signing from Juventus after a loan spell at Roma last season, Huijsen has taken the Premier League by storm and earned a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer.
Newcastle were extremely interested in signing Huijsen after missing out on him to Bournemouth in 2024, but they were unable to lure him away from the reigning Champions League winners.
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It was revealed that Huijsen had a £50m release clause. It is a transfer fee the Magpies are able to afford, but Real stole a march on all interested parties and have officially confirmed his signing on their club website.
The Real Madrid statement read: “Real Madrid C. F. and AFC Bournemouth have reached an agreement for the transfer of Dean Huijsen, who will be linked to our club for the next five seasons, from 1 June 2025 to 30 June 2030.
“At his 20 years of age, Dean Huijsen is already a Spain international and has played in Italy’s Serie A with Juventus and Roma, and in the Premier League with Bournemouth.
“Dean Huijsen has been nominated for Premier League Young Player of the Year 2024-2025.”
Newcastle United told to sign £50m Dean Huijsen alternative
While Huijsen’s Real Madrid deal is done, it does not mean that Newcastle will shy away from signing any of Bournemouth’s other impressive stars this summer.
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Illia Zabarnyi, who has played alongside Huijsen for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign. Together, they have helped Bournemouth up to 10th in the Premier League table, still in with a small chance of qualifying for Europe.
Reports have stated that, like Huijsen, Zabarnyi will cost Newcastle £50m this summer. At just 22 years old, it does not seem like an outlandish fee given the season he has had.
Zabarnyi could be one of several new players welcomed through the doors at Newcastle in what is being hyped up to be one of the most important transfer windows in the club’s history.