He no longer plays for Bournemouth and has even made his official debut for Real Madrid, but Dean Huijsen can still hope to receive a prestigious honour in England. The defender has been shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award due to his performances last season.
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The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), which serves as the official trade union for professional footballers in England, plays a unique and respected role in recognising outstanding performances across all tiers of the English football pyramid.
Unlike other football awards that may be decided by journalists, coaches, or fan votes, the PFA awards are especially meaningful to players, as they are nominated and voted on by their fellow professionals. This peer recognition is widely regarded as one of the highest forms of individual honour in English football.
Each year, as the domestic season draws to a close, the PFA begins compiling shortlists for its various awards, including Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year across the Premier League, Championship, League One, and League Two. These lists are then refined, leading to a final group of six nominees in each category. The winners are announced during an official gala ceremony, which this year will take place on August 19 in Manchester.
Among the finalists for the PFA Young Player of the Year award is Dean Huijsen, a talented central defender with dual Dutch and Spanish nationality, who has enjoyed a rapid rise in recent months. Though he briefly played in the English system with Bournemouth, Huijsen has since made his official debut for Spanish giants Real Madrid a move that only further highlights his meteoric development.
Despite no longer playing in England, Huijsen’s performances last season were strong enough to leave a lasting impression on his peers. His name remains on the final shortlist, where he is joined by some of the brightest young stars in English football. The list includes Liam Delap, who impressed at Ipswich Town before completing a summer move to Chelsea, Milos Kerkez, a promising left-back for Bournemouth who is reportedly attracting strong interest from Liverpool, and three exciting English talents: Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, as well as Morgan Rogers, who had a breakout season with Aston Villa.
The presence of Huijsen on this elite shortlist underlines the high regard in which he is held within the professional game. Although his path has taken him away from England and onto the grand stage of the Santiago Bernabéu, the fact that fellow professionals still considered him worthy of a nomination shows just how impactful his time in English football was even if brief. It also demonstrates how the PFA values contributions made across the full breadth of the season, regardless of subsequent transfers or changes in leagues.
Huijsen’s transition to Real Madrid has been closely monitored by fans and analysts alike. His debut with Los Blancos marked a significant milestone in his career, offering a glimpse into the potential that has made him one of Europe’s most talked-about young defenders. Known for his composure on the ball, tactical awareness, and physical presence, Huijsen is expected to play a growing role in Madrid’s squad over the coming seasons.
Elsewhere, the PFA will also announce its Player of the Year awards across all four professional divisions in England. In the Championship, Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer is among the standout nominees. Hamer, who played a crucial role for Sheffield United, was already named the official Player of the Season by the league itself, and now has the opportunity to secure similar recognition from the PFA. Known for his energy, creativity, and leadership, Hamer’s influence in midfield was pivotal to his team’s campaign.
In the Premier League, the PFA shortlist has not yet been released, adding an extra layer of anticipation ahead of the ceremony. However, other awards have already been handed out, including the Premier League’s own recognitions. Mohamed Salah was named Premier League Player of the Year, once again demonstrating his consistency and elite level of performance with Liverpool. Meanwhile, his compatriot and fellow countryman, Ryan Gravenberch, was honoured as the league’s Best Young Talent a testament to the growing influence of Dutch players in top-flight English football.
As always, the PFA awards are not just about individual excellence, but also about recognising character, consistency, and impact over the course of a long and demanding season. For players like Huijsen and Hamer, making the shortlist is not only a personal achievement but also a symbol of the respect they have earned from their fellow professionals.
The gala in Manchester promises to be an evening of celebration and recognition, bringing together players from all backgrounds and divisions. Whether it’s a rising star like Ethan Nwaneri, who made headlines as one of the youngest players to debut for Arsenal, or an established name like Salah continuing to dominate the English game, the PFA Awards are a reminder of the exceptional talent spread across the footballing landscape and of the importance of honouring it through the voices of those who know the game best: the players themselves.
Updated: 10:17, 19 Jun 2025
