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Arsenal look poised to miss out on highly-rated Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid reportedly confident of sealing a deal for the 20-year-old Spain international.
Huijsen has enjoyed a breakout campaign with Bournemouth after joining from Juventus last summer, quickly establishing himself as a key figure under manager Andoni Iraola. His performances have sparked widespread interest across Europe, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Newcastle all previously linked.
Despite Arsenal once being considered front-runners, recent reports from Marca indicate that Real Madrid have moved ahead in the race. The Spanish giants are said to have been in direct contact with the player’s camp, with Huijsen’s father reportedly communicating that the Santiago Bernabéu remains his son’s preferred destination.
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The defender’s contract includes a £50 million release clause, and while there were initial concerns over Madrid’s willingness to spend such a sum, it’s believed the fee can be paid in three installments — making the deal more viable for Los Blancos. Madrid, known in recent years for favouring free transfers — including last summer’s capture of Kylian Mbappé and a potential move for Trent Alexander-Arnold — appear ready to make an exception given their need for defensive reinforcements.
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A spate of injuries and a disappointing domestic campaign, which is set to see them relinquish the LaLiga title to rivals Barcelona, have prompted Madrid to accelerate their transfer plans. The club is looking to add both a centre-back and a left-back ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off next month.
Huijsen is understood to be willing to reject more lucrative offers from the Premier League, including a concrete proposal from Chelsea, in order to join Madrid. Despite turning down the club in 2021 to sign for Juventus, the defender and his family have maintained strong ties with the Spanish capital.
Madrid will begin their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 with a group match against Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal. They will also face Mexican side Pachuca and Austria’s RB Salzburg in Group H. A short transfer window, open from June 1 to June 10, will allow participating clubs to finalise their squads — and Madrid hope Huijsen will be among their new additions.
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