Real Madrid Win Race for Dean Huijsen Amid Fierce Premier League Competition
This summer’s transfer window has delivered its first big shock. Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth’s standout young defender, is headed to Real Madrid in a £50 million switch. It’s a move that’s left Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool watching from the sidelines, despite all three English clubs pushing hard to land the 20-year-old Dutchman.
Madrid pulled the trigger by activating Huijsen’s release clause, locking him in on a five-year contract that will run through 2030. The timing isn’t lost on anyone: he’ll join the Spanish giants just before the expanded Club World Cup next summer. For Huijsen, this is more than a transfer—it’s almost like going home. The Dutch centre-back spent part of his youth with Málaga’s academy, and the lure of a return to Spain was too strong for the Premier League’s biggest names to fight off.
It’s another reminder of Real Madrid’s pulling power on the global stage. While English clubs can offer big contracts and plenty of exposure, Los Blancos still hold sway when it comes down to a teenager’s dream move. The club’s negotiators moved fast, getting personal terms sorted before the likes of Arsenal could properly make their case. Bournemouth, meanwhile, confirmed that Madrid had matched the release figure after Juventus—still clinging to a piece of the action—took their 10% sell-on from the £12.6 million fee paid last year when Huijsen left Turin for England.
Huijsen barely paused to unpack on the south coast. Thirty-four appearances, three goals, and immediate Premier League interest in one whirlwind season. At Bournemouth, he looked comfortable against top opposition, blending size, composure, and a knack for building from the back. That performance level caught plenty of scouts’ attention, but his preference was clear as soon as Madrid called.
Xabi Alonso Set to Usher in New Era as Real Madrid Eyes More Premier League Talent
The deal is Madrid’s first under their soon-to-be manager Xabi Alonso, with his appointment all but signed off. Alonso, admired for his tactical know-how and leadership—both on and off the field—will inherit a defence with fresh youth and proven ability. Landing Huijsen is a statement: Madrid is reloading, not rebuilding.
The Spanish side’s confidence is sky-high. They’re even moving in on Liverpool’s star right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, aiming to add him on a free transfer before the Club World Cup kicks off. Liverpool’s not keen to lose their homegrown leader, but Madrid aren’t known for backing down when they set their sights on a target.
It’s rare to see a player rise so quickly through the ranks as Huijsen has. Twelve months ago, he was leaving Juventus for a shot at Premier League football, now he’s secured one of the highest-profile defensive moves in Europe. Bournemouth will get quite the payday, and Juventus pockets an unexpected windfall too.
Now, all eyes turn to how Huijsen adapts at the Bernabéu, with pressure and expectation set to ramp up next year. Premier League fans can only imagine what might have been if he’d chosen London blue or red—but the dream of Real Madrid remains as powerful as ever.
