Real Madrid have made a significant move in the transfer market by agreeing to pay Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen's £50m release clause. The 20-year-old Spain international is set to join the La Liga club at the end of this season, turning down several offers to remain in England.
The decision comes as part of Real's strategy to strengthen their defence. The club will activate Huijsen's release clause in his Bournemouth contract, which he signed less than a year ago. The payment will be made in three instalments, with Juventus and Malaga, Huijsen's former clubs, set to receive 10% and 5% respectively.
Huijsen had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle but chose Real Madrid instead. His return to Spain marks a homecoming of sorts, as he grew up playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga's youth team.
Xabi Alonso’s Influence on Huijsen signing
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has reportedly been instrumental in securing this deal. Set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real manager soon, Alonso prioritised signing a young centre-back like Huijsen, who joined Bournemouth from Juventus last summer for £12.6m.
In his tenure with Bournemouth this season alone, the Netherlands-born defender has made 34 appearances across all competitions, scoring three times.
Tiago Pinto is also said to have played an essential role in bringing Huijsen onboard at Bournemouth initially. As president of football operations at Bournemouth since 2024 after leaving Roma, where he was general manager, Pinto leveraged his knowledge about Juventus' need to sell players while signing him for £12.6m, a deal potentially rising to £15m.
Huijsen’s Journey
Huijsen's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. After an injury to team-mate Marcos Senesi, he broke into Bournemouth's starting XI and hasn't looked back since. His exceptional performance on his third Premier League start saw him score a towering header in a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Vitality Stadium in December.
Since then, he has made his debut for Spain and been ever-present in Andoni Iraola's defence. Once the move to Bernabeu is completed, Bournemouth will have quadrupled their initial outlay on the defender.
This transfer marks Real Madrid's second signing from the Premier League this summer after Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is also set to move to the Spanish capital. With these strategic acquisitions, Real Madrid are poised for an exciting season ahead under their new manager.
