Dean Huijsen’s agent, Ali Barat, has confirmed that Chelsea, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich all made moves to sign the defender before he opted for Real Madrid this summer.
The 20-year-old centre-back had only just joined AFC Bournemouth from Juventus in 2024, but his outstanding first season under Andoni Iraola — where he racked up 41 appearances — quickly made him one of Europe’s most in-demand young defenders.
His form also earned him a debut for Spain in March, a milestone that accelerated Madrid’s interest.
Speaking to AS, Barat explained that Chelsea were the first elite club to show serious intent, making an approach as early as January.
However, Bournemouth refused to sanction a mid-season sale, and Huijsen’s release clause only became active in the summer window. Once Real Madrid entered the race, though, there was little doubt about the outcome.
Dean Huijsen Is An Outstanding Defender
“We always thought Real Madrid would come,” Barat said. “Dean is a fantastic player, and after the two games with the national team, Juni Calafat contacted us, and everything moved very quickly. When Madrid came along, it was an easy decision: there were many clubs, but with Real Madrid, there was no doubt.”
Barat went on to add: “Chelsea wanted him, even since January. They were the first big club really interested. And of course, after playing for the national team, we had about seven big clubs: Bayern, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle… They all wanted Dean, to be honest.”
A boyhood Real Madrid fan, Huijsen had his heart set on the Bernabéu, and despite Premier League competition, the Spanish giants secured his signature without hesitation.
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