Real Madrid Close to Signing Dean Huijsen After Xabi Alonso’s Request

Real Madrid are about to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. Manager Xabi Alonso asked the club to hurry up the negotiations to get the defender.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Xabi Alonso spoke up and Real Madrid rushed to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. There was a meeting on Monday where Huijsen told everyone he wants to move to Spain, even with interest from some top Premier League clubs. He rejected bids from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City and decided to wait for Real Madrid to make their move.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Spanish international has a £50 million (around €58 million) release clause in his Bournemouth contract. There are reports suggesting Real Madrid will pay that amount in installments instead of at once. Huijsen has had an impressive debut season in the Premier League with Bournemouth, attracting interest from several clubs in Europe. His displays helped manager Andoni Iraola’s team secure a mid-table position and protect themselves from relegation with three matches remaining in the season.

Bournemouth are currently 12th in the Premier League standings with 45 points, just four points behind 10th-placed Brighton and five points clear of Crystal Palace below them in 14th. Huijsen’s defensive stability has been a key part of Bournemouth’s solid season under Iraola.

JUVENTUS SET TO BENEFIT

Juventus will receive approximately €5.8 million from this transfer due to a 10 percent sell-on clause they included when selling Huijsen to Bournemouth last July for €15.2 million. The Italian giants might regret letting the talented defender leave so cheaply just a year ago, but will get some financial relief. Málaga, Huijsen’s former youth club, will also receive close to €1.8 million from the deal.

WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Real Madrid are currently in a tight La Liga title fight with Barcelona, as they are just two points behind their bitter rivals with three matches remaining in the season. They will face Valencia at home in a crucial fixture this Sunday, where earning the three points will be necessary to keep the pressure on the Catalans.

Adding Huijsen to the squad will strengthen Alonso’s defensive options ahead of next season as they attempt to build a squad capable of challenging on all fronts. On the other hand, for Huijsen, the transfer to Spain will be a significant step forward in his career. Should the transfer go through as expected, he will join an elite defensive unit at the Santiago Bernabeu and will likely feature in next season’s revamped Champions League format. Los Blancos fans will be eager to see how the young defender progresses in the coming years.