Real Madrid has signed Spain defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth on Saturday, activating his £50 million ($59 million) release clause. The 20-year-old centre-back impressed in his first season in the Premier League after joining the Cherries from Juventus in 2024 for £12.8 million.
“Real Madrid and Bournemouth have reached an agreement for the transfer of Dean Huijsen, who will join our club for the next five seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030,” the Spanish club announced in a statement.
Bournemouth confirmed that Madrid had triggered Huijsen’s £50 million release clause, with reports suggesting that Juventus and Malaga, his previous clubs, will also benefit from the deal.
Real Madrid acted swiftly to secure Huijsen, who had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs. The Spain international will be available for Los Blancos at the Club World Cup in the United States this summer, with their first match against Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami.
Born in the Netherlands, Huijsen moved to Spain with his family at the age of five and joined Malaga’s youth academy. He made his debut for Spain in March, helping La Roja defeat the Netherlands to secure a spot in the Nations League final four.
Real Madrid has faced defensive struggles this season, with 14 losses across all competitions and no major trophies. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave for the Brazil national team, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso expected to replace him in what promises to be a transformative summer for the club.
Huijsen will also be joined at the Santiago Bernabeu by England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join from Liverpool when his contract expires.
