Izuchukwu OkosiReal Madrid have stepped up plans to sign 20-year-old Spain international of Danish origin, Dean Huijsen from English Premier League side, Bournemouth.
The center back had signed a contract with the Vitality Stadium landlords less than 12 months ago with a release clause of £50m inserted into it.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNow, the 15-time European champions who were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this seasonin the quarterfinals stage by Arsenal, have agreed to activate his release clause.
The BBC reports on Thursday that Real Madrid, set to lose Carlo Ancelotti to the Brazil national team and replace with former midfield star Xabi Alonso, intend to formalise the signing of the youngster before the FIFA Club World Cup begins in mid June.
Multiple reports monitored in the English media indicate that Hujisen rejected offers from English teams in favour of a move back to Spain where he cut his footballing tooth playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and the Malaga FC youth side.
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Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were some of the English sides linked with the beanpole defender.
He has chosen Real and will return to Spain where he grew up, playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga’s youth team.
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real manager, has been instrumental in the decision to sign the defender and prioritised signing a young centre-back.
Huijsen joined Bournemouth from Juventus last summer for a fee of £12.6m.
The Netherlands-born defender has made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries this season, scoring three times.
Huijsen is set to become Madrid’s second signing from the Premier League this summer, with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also set to move to the Spanish capital.
Huijsen was subject of an international tug-of-war between the Netherlands, where he was born, and Spain, where he was raised.
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He opted to play for Spain, and made his debut for the 2024 European Championship winners against the Netherlands in March 2025.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who gave Huijsen his international debut, says the defender is “ready” for the move to the Bernabeu.
“I see him – if nothing gets in the way – as capable of playing for any team,” De La Fuente told BBC Sport.
“I don’t see any limits. Huijsen is having a great season in the Premier League and is ready. I’m sure he’ll keep improving with time, naturally.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
