20-Year-Old Defender Dean Huijsen Seals €59M Real Madrid Move, Bringing Windfall to Costa del Sol Clubs
Dean Huijsen, a towering 20-year-old defender with Spanish and Dutch roots, is set to join Real Madrid after the club triggered his €59 million release clause at AFC Bournemouth. The transfer, confirmed last week, will see Huijsen sign a five-year deal and officially become a Madrid player on June 1, 2025.
Originally developed at Malaga CF between 2017 and 2022, the club will receive nearly €500,000 through FIFA’s solidarity mechanism. Another Costa del Sol side, Juventud de Torremolinos, is also due a smaller payout of around €150,000 for Huijsen’s stint there during the 2019–20 season.
Raised in Marbella, Huijsen joined Malaga’s academy in 2015 but only qualifies for solidarity payments from the age of 12. His move places him among notable Costa del Sol talents to represent Real Madrid, including Isco, Fernando Hierro, and Brahim Díaz. He could debut for Los Blancos as early as next month in the FIFA Club World Cup.