Dean Huijsen is the most expensive defender Real Madrid has ever signed in the club's history. On Saturday, the Spanish giants reached an agreement with Bournemouth for the transfer of the centre-back, in a deal worth around sixty million euros.
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Dean Huijsen has become the most expensive defender in Real Madrid’s history.
The Spanish club activated the release clause in the young Spanish international’s contract with Bournemouth, paying €59.5 million to secure his services. Although the fee falls just short of Bournemouth’s all-time record sale, this transfer marks a significant moment for both clubs and especially for a player who, just a couple of years ago, was still taking his first steps in senior football.
The clause was activated well before the usual opening of the summer transfer window. Typically, Real Madrid only registers new signings from July 1st onward, but in this case, the club made an exception. The reason is clear: Huijsen will join the squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, a tournament that has grown in importance with its new format and increased prestige. The fact that Real Madrid wants him available immediately shows the level of trust they already have in the 19-year-old’s ability to perform on the world stage.
This investment places Huijsen ahead of well-known names like Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy on the list of the most expensive defenders in the club’s history. Militão, who joined from FC Porto in 2019 for €50 million, has become a defensive pillar for Los Blancos. Mendy, signed from Lyon in the same year for €48 million, also established himself as a reliable starter. Further down the list are Álvaro Odriozola and Danilo, who were signed for more than €30 million each. However, despite his record as a defender, Huijsen doesn’t crack the top ten of Real Madrid’s most expensive signings overall a list dominated by attackers and global stars.
According to data from Transfermarkt, the ten most expensive signings in Real Madrid’s history remain Eden Hazard, Jude Bellingham, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Zinédine Zidane, James Rodríguez, Kaká, Luka Jovic, and Luís Figo. All of them were brought in for higher fees, reflecting not only Real Madrid’s historic preference for attacking flair but also how this transfer breaks the mold by placing a young centre-back in a financial tier usually reserved for global icons.
On the other side of the deal, this sale is a massive financial success for Bournemouth a club that, little more than a decade ago, was playing in League One and posting heavy losses. Since then, Bournemouth has risen to Premier League stability, built a solid foundation, and improved its recruitment strategy. The sale of Huijsen is the second most lucrative in the club’s history, trailing only the €64.3 million transfer of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham in 2024.
What’s even more remarkable is how quickly Huijsen rose in value. He only joined Bournemouth a year ago from Juventus, where he had impressed in the youth ranks and made a few senior appearances. His rapid adaptation to Premier League football and his mature performances for his age convinced Real Madrid to make a decisive move. The transfer is a perfect example of how Premier League clubs can develop and showcase young talents in a short amount of time, particularly when they offer consistent playing time in a competitive environment.
For both Real Madrid and Bournemouth, this transfer reflects a broader trend in the modern football market: youth, potential, and long-term value are now among the most sought-after attributes in player recruitment sometimes even more than current performance or experience. For Real Madrid, Huijsen represents a long-term investment with short-term potential. For Bournemouth, it validates their transfer and development model, further boosting the club’s reputation on the European stage.
Now, Huijsen prepares to begin the most challenging and high-profile chapter of his career at the Santiago Bernabéu, where expectations are sky-high and competition for places is relentless. The Club World Cup may be his first opportunity to make a global impact in a Real Madrid shirt, but the real test will be in the day-to-day demands of a full season. At just 19 years of age, Huijsen steps into one of the biggest stages in world football with a hefty price tag on his shoulders, but also with the potential to become one of the defining defenders of the next generation.
Updated: 01:44, 17 May 2025
