English team overtakes Real Madrid in the race for wonderkid signing
The Premier League side are now leading the race for the 20-year-old Spanish international.
Dean Huijsen, the 20-year-old Spanish centre-back, currently at Bournemouth, has emerged as Chelsea’s top transfer target. The Blues are reportedly prepared to trigger his €60 million ($68 million) release clause to secure the move. Interestingly, the plan would be for Huijsen to join in time to feature in the Club World Cup, for which a special transfer window will be opened.
The interest from Chelsea—first reported by The Independent and confirmed by AS—aligns with Huijsen’s own preferences, despite several other clubs showing interest. Chelsea, however, appear ready to move quickly by paying the release clause outright, which would significantly accelerate the deal.
Dean Huijsen is the highest rated centre-back under the age of 21 in Europe's top five leagues this season (6.99).
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) April 23, 2025
The #AFCB defender has also made more interceptions than any other player in the Premier League in 2025 (32). ✨ pic.twitter.com/T5SZecH38E
Huijsen is also keen to remain in the Premier League, where he has seamlessly adapted, becoming one of the standout defenders in Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side. He has made 27 appearances this season, scoring twice, and his performances have earned him international caps for Spain.
His impact with the national team was particularly impressive in both legs of the Nations League quarterfinals against the Netherlands.
Madrid monitoring the situation
Real Madrid is one of the clubs keeping a close eye on the potential Chelsea-Huijsen transfer. While they rate the player highly, there is hesitation over committing such a significant fee for a young centre-back, especially with Asencio emerging as a first-team option.
This is an 18-year-old, 6'5" centre-back dribbling through midfield using both feet before planting a finish from the edge of the box. He is on loan at Roma from Juventus. His name is Dean Huijsen.pic.twitter.com/2xNgCo3lgR
— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) February 20, 2024
Still, Huijsen and his father have long expressed admiration for Real Madrid, dating back to their time living in Málaga. However, Chelsea currently appears to be the most promising next step in his career—making the prospect of a dramatic big-money move increasingly likely.
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