Dean Huijsen: Rising Star, Ball-Playing Defender, and International Switcheroo
Introduction
Dean Huijsen Dean Donny Huijsen has quickly become one of the most talked-about young defenders in European football. Born in Amsterdam in 2005, but raised predominantly in Spain, Huijsen’s journey crosses several top clubs, multiple national teams at youth level, and a fast-evolving reputation for his mix of physicality, composure, and scoring threat from the back. In this article I’ll break down his background, how his club career has developed, his international allegiances, his playing style, and what the future might hold.
Early Life and Youth Development
Dean Huijsen was born 14 April 2005 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. When he was just about five years old, his family moved to Marbella, Spain. Juventus.com+4BBC+4Wikipedia+4 Growing up in southern Spain shaped his football education heavily: he started at an amateur side called Costa Unida CF in Marbella, before moving to the Málaga youth system in 2015, at the age of 10. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
At Málaga, he was evaluated as a talented youngster, particularly impressed scouts with his reading of the game, size, and athleticism. He sometimes played forward early in his youth career, but gradually transitioned into a centre-back role. That’s not unusual for physically gifted players; moving deeper allowed him to exploit his aerial ability and positional sense. Diario AS+2Wikipedia+2
In 2021, after drawing interest from multiple big clubs, Huijsen joined Juventus’s youth academy. The move was seen by many as a logical next step for a player with his profile: a defender who can defend and can attack (especially from set pieces), who already had experience in Spain’s youth setups and Málaga’s system. pass.juventus.com+3Wikipedia+3Juventus.com+3
Club Career Trajectory
Juventus Days (Youth & NextGen)
Once at Juventus, Huijsen played initially with the Dean Huijsen Under-17s. He impressed, not just by being solid defensively but by scoring goals: with the U-17 and then U-19 teams, he found the back of the net with surprising frequency for a central defender. For example, in the 2022-23 season, he made multiple appearances and scored goals across the Primavera (U-19), UEFA Youth League, Coppa Italia Serie C, and through Juventus Next Gen. Juventus.com+3Juventus.com+3Wikipedia+3
His progression was rapid. In December 2022, he got played in some first-team friendlies for Juventus (against Standard Liège and Rijeka) which is a sign the coaching staff were tracking him for senior involvement. Wikipedia+1 Then, in early 2023, he was firmly part of the Juventus Next Gen squad, making his professional debut in Serie C on 8 January in a match against Pordenone. Wikipedia+1
Move to Bournemouth
In July 2024, Dean Huijsen moved from Juventus to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on a long-term deal (six years), for roughly €15.2 million initially, potentially rising with add-ons. Juventus.com+2BBC+2 His first season there helped establish him as a robust and promising young centre-back, able to win aerial duels and contribute in attack when needed. For example, he scored his first goal for Bournemouth in December 2024 with a header against Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the club’s youngest Premier League goal scorer. Wikipedia+2Juventus.com+2
Transfer to Real Madrid
One of the biggest steps in Huijsen’s career came by season end. On 17 May 2025, Real Madrid triggered his release clause, reported at £50 million, signing him on a Dean Huijsen five-year contract starting 1 June 2025, running till 30 June 2030. Reuters+2The Guardian+2 This was widely considered a big move, both for the financials and for expectations: Real Madrid historically demand a lot from their defenders in all phases of play. Reuters
International Career & Nationality Decision
Huijsen had youth caps for Netherlands at various levels (U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19) early on. BBC+2Wikipedia+2 However, because he moved to Spain as a child and spent most of his development there, he became eligible to switch allegiances.
In 2024, he obtained Spanish citizenship and was called up to Spain’s U-21 team around March.BBC+2Wikipedia+2 He then made his senior debut for Spain, marking a key decision in his career: choosing Spain over the Netherlands at senior level. Reuters+1
The choice often involves more than football: lived experience, identity, footballing opportunity, national team setups, and how well you feel part of the local Dean Huijsen culture. For Huijsen, growing up in Spain and developing his football in Spanish environments likely played a big role.
Playing Style and Attributes
What makes Dean Huijsen special? As someone who follows lots of young centre-backs, some traits stand out:
- Physical Presence: He is tall and strong, which helps with aerial duels and defending crosses. His height gives him an edge in set-pieces both defensively and offensively.
- Ball Skills: He’s more than just a big defender. He has comfort with the ball at his feet, good passing range, and composure which allows his team to play out from the back.
- Scoring Threat: For a defender, Huijsen Dean Huijsen has already shown he can score goals, especially from set pieces or by joining the attack. His early goal with Bournemouth is a good example. Also, his youth record at Juventus included multiple goals. Juventus.com+1
- Tactical Intelligence & Aggression: Although still young, he shows good positioning, anticipation, and capacity to recover. He is aware of the Dean Huijsen risk when stepping out of line and works on those parts of his game. Inevitably, with youth comes occasional mistakes, but that is part of his learning curve.
Challenges and Areas to Improve
Even as Huijsen impresses, there are several areas he’ll need to tighten to fulfil his potential at clubs like Real Madrid and playing for top international opposition:
- Consistency: Young defenders often oscillate between excellent performances and lapses. Maintaining concentration across full matches is something he’ll have to solidify.
- Experience under pressure: Big matches, especially in La Liga or in Champions League contexts, bring different pressures. He’ll need exposure and time to adapt.
- Handling speed and trickery: When attackers are fast, crafty, and with low center of gravity, physicality helps but so does agility and anticipation. These are often tougher for taller defenders.
- Decision-making in high tempo games: Knowing when to step forward, when to stay back, when to clear, when to play out—these are nuanced decisions that come with experience.
What the Future Might Bring
Given his age, his trajectory so far, and his move to Real Madrid, the future looks bright for Dean Huijsen. Some predictions / possibilities:
- He may become a regular starter at Real Madrid, or at least rotate heavily if injuries hit the squad. The coaching staff will likely use patience with him but also test him in high-stakes games.
- With Spain, he could cement a role in defense over the coming years, particularly as older centre-backs retire or are phased out. If he continues performing at club level, national team opportunities will increase.
- Transfer market interest will remain strong. Already there was talk of big clubs watching him, but now at Real Madrid, the expectations multiply. He’ll have to meet them, not just with talent but with consistency.
- Learning curves ahead may include Dean Huijsen adapting to media scrutiny, managing pressure, dealing with setbacks (injuries, match mistakes), and continuing to develop his all-round defensive game.
Conclusion
Dean Huijsen is an excellent example of a young footballer whose path crosses multiple cultures, leagues, and identity choices. From Amsterdam to Marbella, Dean Huijsen from Málaga’s youth teams to Juventus, then Bournemouth, and now Real Madrid — the stepping stones keep getting bigger. What stands out is not just his physical tools, but also his composure, his attacking contribution from the back, and his willingness to make strategic choices: both in which club to join and which country to represent.
He’s still at the beginning of what could Dean Huijsen be an impressive senior career. If he avoids typical pitfalls young defenders face—slumps in form, injuries, overhype—Dean Huijsen could become one of Europe’s top centre-backs in years to come. For now, he’s one to watch
