Why Dean Huijsen could be Real Madrid's best signing in years

Dubai: Let me tell you about a moment that perfectly captures Dean Huijsen. In the Nations League semi-final between Spain and France, this 20-year-old centre-back unleashed a volley that would make Karim Benzema jealous. It looked like a very well-worked set piece, but there was only one problem – his teammate was offside in the buildup. Goal disallowed. However, watching that strike it told you everything about why Real Madrid spent a whopping £50 million for. He is so good with the ball.

Huijsen's journey reads like one of those Fifa career mode stories you'd never believe actually happened. Born in the Netherlands, he represented them at youth level before switching to Spain. Smart kid – he probably saw Pedri and Lamine Yamal coming through and thought, "Yeah, I'll have some of that."

His parents moved to Spain when he was 5 years old, and he joined Malaga's academy. Later, Juventus scouted him and brought him to Turin in 2021. Juve shipped him off to Roma on loan for his development, where José Mourinho gave him his senior debut and announced to the world that he was a special talent. The Special One doesn't hand out debuts lightly, and when he praised Huijsen publicly, you knew something special was brewing.

But here's where it gets intriguing – Juventus sold him to Bournemouth. Yes, Bournemouth. For £12 million. In hindsight, that might go down as one of the worst pieces of business in recent memory, because this kid is eventually going to excel on the big stages.

Under Andoni Iraola, Huijsen didn't just develop – he absolutely flourished. Watching him play for the Cherries was like seeing a perfect modern defender in action. Those diagonal balls to Antoine Semenyo? Pure class. We saw him doing the same for Spain in the Nations League final as well – those diagonal balls for Nico Williams were absolute gems. He can also drive forward with the ball, break lines effortlessly, and pick a pass with great vision. All of this is done from the centre-back position.

He can actually defend too. In an era where ball-playing centre-backs often forget they're supposed to defend, Huijsen does both. He's 6'3", wins his headers, and has that rare ability to read the game that you simply can't teach. Don't mistake me – he's still raw, but the quality is already on full display.

When Real Madrid triggered his £50 million release clause in May, Bournemouth had other clubs lined up for him, but when Real came calling, it was an easy choice for Huijsen. The Cherries made a tidy profit from this deal – £15 million to £50 million in one season? Pretty good business. Yes, they've lost a gem, but they know they're a selling club. It's a premium price for a youngster, but he has the potential to be a superstar.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. Xabi Alonso taking over as Real Madrid coach will massively benefit his development. Alonso knows what it's like to be a young player at a massive club, and his track record with young talent at Leverkusen speaks for itself.

Imagine having Alonso as your coach when you're learning to play out from the back – the man who could ping a 60-yard pass to perfection. Huijsen is going to learn things that you simply can't pick up anywhere else.

Real Madrid's injury problems in defence mean Huijsen might get his debut earlier than expected. The Club World Cup is coming up, and with Alonso taking charge, this could be his opportunity to show the Madridistas what he's capable of. However, with all due respect, playing for a big club like Real isn't the same as playing for Bournemouth. Having experienced players around him will help, but honestly, watching Huijsen play, you get the feeling he's ready for anything.

At Real, Mbappé and Vinícius are often ready to run down the channels; having a defender who can find them with 40-yard passes is basically a cheat code. Teams are going to press Real Madrid high, thinking they can force mistakes in the buildup. Then Huijsen is going to casually ping a diagonal ball over the top, and suddenly Mbappé is through on goal.

It's not just the passing either. His threat from set pieces adds another dimension to their attack. £50 million for a 20-year-old centre-back might seem like a lot of money, but it's actually not that inflated in today's transfer market. When you consider what he brings to the table, it might turn out to be an absolute bargain. He is that good. The only question remaining is: can he handle the pressure of playing for the biggest club in the world? Real Madrid fans might have to give him time to settle.