Real Madrid are the latest elite club in European football to be smitten with Bournemouth breakout star Dean Huijsen, who has emerged as arguably the best young center back in the world – and one of the other players in the argument is already in Madrid, Raul Asencio.
Huijsen has been one of the top center backs in the Premier League, dribbled past just 0.3 times per game with nearly three combined tackles and interceptions per matchup.
Real Madrid are increasingly interested in signing the 19-year-old Spanish defender, and they are prepared to make a play for the Bournemouth star sooner than even they expected.
According to a report from Madrid-based paper Diario AS, via Madrid Xtra, Real Madrid have now decided to go after Huijsen in the summer 2025 transfer window as opposed to 2026, which was their initial plan.
Huijsen won’t be cheap, but he should be an affordable signing somewhere in the neighborhood of the 50 million euros they spent on Eder Militao in the summer 2019 transfer window.
Militao has been a smashing hit for Real Madrid, and Huijsen could have a similar impact. And on the Militao note, with the Brazilian coming off two ACL tears in two seasons, Huijsen’s signing could not come at a better time.
Huijsen should be an immediate starter, and he would give Real Madrid potentially five strong center back options with Antonio Rudiger, Militao, Asencio, and even Joan Martinez in the mix.
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.