Dean Huijsen: The meteoric rise of the young central defender | OneFootball

Dean Huijsen: The meteoric rise of the young central defender

Dean Huijsen is currently one of the best central defenders in the game. At just twenty years old, the young Spaniard has established himself as an undisputed starter for Real Madrid. Here’s a look at his journey.

Born in Amsterdam, Huijsen began his footballing career in Malaga’s youth ranks at the age of ten. In July 2021, Juventus spotted his potential and snapped him up for €470,000. After progressing through the U17s, U19s and Juve Next Gen, he broke into the first team for the 2023/24 season. In January of that same campaign, he was loaned out to Roma for six months, where he truly excelled before returning to Juventus as a much-improved player.

Despite his progress, Juventus didn’t see Huijsen as part of their long-term plans. He then made the switch to Bournemouth for nearly €20 million. His debut season in the Premier League was exceptional, earning him a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year. This drew the attention of several European giants, including Real Madrid—his clear choice for the next step in his career.

The transfer was finally completed for €62 million. This season, the 1.97m-tall defender has become the leader of Madrid’s backline, starting every match. Assistant coach Xabi Alonso has praised his composure on the ball and his pinpoint long-range passing.

With his technique, imposing height, and football intelligence, Huijsen looks set to etch his name into Real Madrid’s history and establish himself as a world-class centre-back.