Real Madrid has officially finalized the signing of 20-year-old center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The Spanish giants reportedly agreed to pay the player`s $50 million release clause and finalized terms with his representatives. Huijsen, considered a bright young prospect in European football, has penned a contract that runs until the summer of 2030. This move comes just one season after he transferred from Juventus to the English club for approximately $15 million. His arrival at Real Madrid signifies a major leap in his burgeoning career.
The club is preparing for further significant changes this summer. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to depart Real Madrid starting May 26 to take on the role of head coach for the Brazilian national team. Club president Florentino Perez is also anticipated to announce the appointment of Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso as the new manager.
With Xabi Alonso expected to take charge ahead of this summer`s FIFA Club World Cup, considerable transfer activity is foreseen in the coming weeks. Huijsen`s signing is one of the first, with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also rumored to be joining the Spanish club as a free agent. Huijsen`s talent attracted interest from several clubs this summer, understandable given his performance. In his debut Premier League season, he showcased his abilities, even finding the net three times. English clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were among those reportedly keen on signing him before Real Madrid entered the race for the former Juventus player.
Early Career
Born in Amsterdam in 2005, Huijsen moved to Marbella, Spain, with his family at the age of five, where he began playing football. He later joined the Malaga academy. In 2021, aged 16, he transferred to Juventus in Turin, Italy, initially joining their U17 squad but quickly progressing to the Juventus second team, which competes in the third division.
During the 2023-24 season, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri occasionally included him in the first-team squad. He made his official Serie A debut in October 2023 against AC Milan. This turned out to be his sole first-team appearance for Juventus before he moved on loan to AS Roma in January 2024 at the suggestion of then-coach Jose Mourinho. Mourinho praised Huijsen in a press conference before his arrival, stating, “Dean Huijsen has 10 minutes of football in Serie A, but he`s one of the biggest prospects in football. He will be a very great player in the future.”
Mourinho`s prediction proved accurate. Although Mourinho was sacked shortly after, his successor Daniele De Rossi placed confidence in Huijsen`s talent. By the end of the season, Huijsen had played 14 games for Roma, scoring two goals. He returned to Juventus in the summer of 2024, but the Italian club agreed terms with Bournemouth in July, facilitating his move to the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
Huijsen`s Strengths
Huijsen is considered a modern and aggressive defender, comfortable stepping out of the defensive line to intercept passes or engage strikers early. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, his height is a significant advantage in aerial duels, where he achieved a 59.3% success rate in the Premier League this season, ranking him among the league`s best defenders in this category. As a modern defender, he can sometimes follow strikers into midfield, fitting well with teams employing an aggressive playing style, such as the one Xabi Alonso utilized at Bayer Leverkusen.
Furthermore, Huijsen is comfortable playing with both feet and boasts an impressive pass completion rate of 84.3% at Bournemouth, the highest among players with more than two Premier League starts. This skill allows him to contribute significantly to the team`s build-up play, potentially bypassing the midfield line with his accurate long passes, which can be crucial when his team is attacking.
Huijsen`s Weaknesses
Given his young age, there are naturally areas where Huijsen can improve. Discipline is one such area; his aggressive style led to six yellow cards in the Premier League season, five of which were for tactical fouls. He also ranks third in the league for total fouls committed (90). While he handled the physicality of the English league reasonably well, there is potential for improvement in speed. He could occasionally be exposed if the team adopts a very high defensive line, a tactic Xabi Alonso might employ.
Overall, he is a remarkably mature player for his age and experience level. The prospect of him developing further at Real Madrid, especially under a coach like Xabi Alonso who has a proven track record of improving young players, presents significant opportunities for him to forge a great career at the club.
How He Fits at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is expected to make changes in their defensive line this summer, particularly at center-back, where they are anticipated to sign at least two players. This need stems from the injury issues that plagued Carlo Ancelotti`s squad during the current season, significantly impacting the defense. Key defenders like Eder Militao missed 49 games due to injury, and Dani Carvajal missed 53, highlighting the vulnerability of the current backline.
Due to the lack of available defenders, Ancelotti was forced to adapt, sometimes deploying midfielders like Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in defensive roles. The team heavily relied on the partnership of Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio, with Asencio only making his club debut this season. Backup option Jesus Vallejo saw minimal game time, appearing in just two La Liga matches for a total of 36 minutes.
Considering these circumstances, Huijsen is likely to become a central figure under Xabi Alonso. However, the exact extent of his playing time will likely depend on who else Real Madrid signs in defense this summer.
Benedict Kingsley