Real Madrid have watched Eder Militao go down with a season-ending injury for two seasons in a row, taking the club’s best center back – and one of the best center backs on the planet – away from them.
Although Real Madrid have unearthed one of the best young center backs in the world in Raul Asencio this season and have high hopes for fellow prospect Joan Martinez, who tore his own ACL before his 2024/25 breakout could ever begin, they can’t like their depth too much right now.
Antonio Rudiger is still effective but getting older, while David Alaba may be finished at the top level after his torn ACL last season. Aurelien Tchouameni is an option at center back, but he’s not a reliable one, particularly against top teams like Barcelona.
Real Madrid will have their eyes on an ascending center back this summer in the aftermath of Militao’s second torn ACL, and it looks increasingly like Spanish international Dean Huijsen is the main man for the job.
Real Madrid are smitten with Dean Huijsen
According to a report from Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre, via Madrid Xtra, Real Madrid are liking the idea of signing Huijsen more and more and have come away highly impressed with the young central defender’s performances for the Spanish national team.
Huijsen just had a strong performance for Spain against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League. The 19-year-old is on the radar of so many big clubs in the Premier League and will have no shortage of suitors, but when Real Madrid come knocking, most players, let alone Spanish nationals, usually don’t turn them down.
A great prospect that Juventus and Roma let slip between their fingers, Huijsen has been one of the biggest defensive breakout stars in the world this season at Bournemouth with 1.2 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, and just 0.3 dribbles allowed per game.
He is the next big thing at center back and very obviously worth Real’s time on the transfer market.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.