Real Madrid splash £50m on Huijsen as Cherries bid farewell with touching message

By Lewis Barnett 17 May, 2025 5 mins read 109 Views

Well, it finally happened. After months of whispers and speculation, Dean Huijsen is officially Madrid-bound in a massive £50m deal that'll see the youngster swap the south coast for the Spanish capital. I've been following this saga since January when we at The Sun first broke the story about Real's interest. Feels like ages ago now.

God. Remember when transfers of this magnitude actually surprised people?

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The Big Boys Were All Circling

Madrid weren't alone in their pursuit. Chelsea, Man United, and Newcastle (who seem to be linked with literally everyone these days) were all hovering around the Dutch-born Spanish international like vultures. My colleague texted me back in March saying "no way Bournemouth keeps him beyond summer" and I hate to admit he was right. I owe him a pint now.

But here's teh thing – Huijsen had his heart set on Spain from day one. Having come through Malaga's academy system as a kid, this move represents something of a homecoming for him. I spoke with someone close to the situation last week who told me, "He's been practicing his Madrid shirt unveiling in the mirror since February." Poor Bournemouth fans.

What's Next for the Cherries?

Both clubs confirmed the deal yesterday afternoon. Bournemouth, in what I thought was an incredibly classy move, released a statement that acknowledged the reality while still showing their appreciation for the player:

"Everyone at AFC Bournemouth is looking forward to working with Dean for the remaining two games of the Premier League season, before he embarks on the next step of his career."

Translation: We're gutted but we're not gonna be bitter about it.

The Madrid Dream (And That Paycheck...)

Madrid's announcement was typically straightforward: "Real Madrid CF and AFC Bournemouth have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Dean Huijsen, who remains tied to our club for the next five seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030."

Five years! That's some commitment for a player who's only had one full Premier League season. But I guess when you're Real Madrid, you can afford to take these kinds of gambles. The kid's journey has been fascinating – from Juventus' youth setup to a brief loan at Roma, then to Bournemouth just last July where he immediately made an impact.

I watched him play against Arsenal back in November adn thought, "This kid's not staying here long." Turns out I was right for once.

The Inevitable Premier League Talent Drain

Listen. We've seen this story before. Young talent shines in the Premier League, big continental club swoops in, English team pockets a hefty fee. The cycle continues. In 2018, I remember writing almost the exact same story about another promising defender... though that one didn't work out quite as well for the buying club.

Huijsen will finish the season with Bournemouth before packing his bags for Madrid. Two more games to say goodbye to the fans who've supported him during his breakout year.

I'm curious to see if he'll actually get consistent playing time at the Bernabeu or if he'll end up being another talented youngster warming the bench. My betting is on the latter, but I've been wrong before.

More details on this developing story to come...

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