Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dean Donny Huijsen Wijsmuller |
| Nickname | • Fernando Hierro • Chill Guy |
| Profession | Footballer |
| Club | Real Madrid |
Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 197 cm (6’5″) |
| Weight (approx.) | 87 kg (192 lbs) |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Preferred Foot | Both |
Football Career | |
| Youth Career | Youth Clubs / Academies • Costa Unida CF (Marbella, Spain) — 2010–2015 (joined age 5 to 10) • Málaga CF Academy — 2015–2021 (joined at age 10; progressed through U15 to U19) • Juventus Youth System — 2021–2023 (U17 then U19) When Joined Major Academy • Málaga CF Academy at age 10 in 2015; later signed by Juventus in May 2021 at age 16 to join their elite youth ranks. Early Coaches/Influences • Isaac Jiménez, coach at Málaga youth, praised Huijsen’s “game reading, competitive spirit and leadership” starting from U15. • Donny Huijsen (father & former Jong Ajax player) influenced early position shift from striker to centre-back; also serves as his agent. • Sergio Ramos cited as his idol and model by Huijsen himself—affecting his defensive mindset. [!] |
| Senior Club Debut | When & Where • 8 January 2023, Juventus Next Gen (Juventus B) vs Pordenone Calcio in Serie C. Huijsen started the match, played nearly full 90 min; scored a header but goal disallowed. Against Which Club • Pordenone Calcio in an official Serie C fixture – a common first-team deployment for Juventus’ reserve side in Italy’s professional league structure. Age at Debut • 17 years, 8 months, 25 days (born 14 April 2005; debuted 8 January 2023). Exact calculation based on public birthdate and match date. |
Club Career Timeline | |
| Juventus U‑19 / Next Gen | Years & Contract ➤ Joined May 2021 (contract renewed June 2023 to 2027). Promoted to senior squad Nov 2023. Transfer ➤ Free from Málaga → Juventus Appearances & Goals ➤ 40 apps, 10 goals across U19 & Next Gen (2022‑23). [!] Big Moments • Professional debut 8 Jan 2023 vs Pordenone (Serie C). Goal header ruled offside. • First pro brace vs Foggia in Coppa Italia Serie C semi‑final Feb 2023; advanced team on pens. • First Serie C goal vs Feralpisalò in Apr 2023. Manager/Coach Relationships Promoted by Next Gen coach following strong youth performances; part of development pipeline into Allegri’s senior squad. |
| Juventus (First Team) | Years & Contract ➤ Member of senior squad from Nov 2023; contract until 2027. Transfer ➤ Internal promotion Appearances & Goals ➤ Serie A debut: 22 Oct 2023 vs AC Milan (came off bench); total official senior appearances: 1. Big Moments • Official debut in Serie A at San Siro; first call to Juventus first-team and senior squad training. Manager/Coach Relationships Lauded by Allegri for composure; included in squad but limited game time led to loan for experience. |
| AS Roma (Loan) | Loan Period ➤ Loaned Jan 6, 2024 – end of 2023‑24 season. Duration ➤ Six-month loan from Juventus Appearances & Goals ➤ 14 apps, 2 Serie A goals. Big Moments • Debut for Roma on 7 Jan vs Atalanta (entered second half). • First Serie A goal on 5 Feb vs Cagliari. • Second goal vs Frosinone after remarkable solo run—provocative celebration earned yellow and substitution. Manager/Coach Relationships Signed at Mourinho’s request; received praise for character and impact; De Rossi (manager) commented “very young… he will learn.” |
| AFC Bournemouth | Years & Contract ➤ Signed 30 July 2024 on six-year deal (until June 2030) Transfer ➤ £12.6M initial fee (could rise to £15.2–£18.2M) [!] Shirt No. ➤ #2 (defender squad; order as defenders often)  Appearances & Goals ➤ 32 Premier League apps, 3 goals (goals vs Tottenham, Man United & Arsenal) in 2024–25. Big Moments • Debut vs Nottingham Forest (17 Aug); • First PL goal vs Tottenham (5 Dec), • Youngest Bournemouth PL scorer; core of historic season breaking club points record. |
| Real Madrid | Years & Contract ➤ Signing effective 1 June 2025 – Jun 2030 Transfer Details ➤ Release clause £50m (€59.5m) activated by Real Madrid in May 2025. Hungry clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea chased him. [!] Shirt Number ➤ Assigned #24 at Real Madrid. Official presentation on 9 June 2025.  Appearances & Goals ➤ 0 appearance as of July 2025. Debut at Club World Cup match vs Al Hilal (18 June) Big Moments Targeted signing under Xabi Alonso; described as strategic long-term reinforcement; praised for rapid rise by De la Fuente before transfer. [!] |
Loan Spell | |
| Club | AS Roma • Jan 6 – Jun 30, 2024 Loan Purpose • Short-term loan from Juventus to gain first-team experience in Serie A under José Mourinho’s system. • No option-to-buy clause; loan fee initially €650,000, reduced to €400,000 after 10 matches. Performance (Apps & Goals) • 14 Serie A apps, 2 goals (first goal vs Cagliari on 5 Feb 2024; second vs Frosinone in notable solo effort). Feedback & Context • Mourinho saw potential early (“one of the highest-quality projects in Europe for his age”), offering debut immediately. • Mixed reviews: praised for maturity and composure, some tactical errors during stint. [!] |
International Career | |
| Netherlands U17 | Years Active 2022 Caps 11 caps, 2 goals Key Tournaments & Highlights Played all matches at UEFA U17 Euro 2022 (Israel), scoring two penalties in group stages. Runner-up finish. |
| Netherlands U18 / U19 | Years Active 2022–2024 Caps 4 (U18) + 3 (U19), o goal Key Tournaments & Highlights Progressed through youth setup with appearances in qualifiers and friendlies. |
| Spain U21 | Years Active 2024 Caps 7 caps, 1 goal Key Tournaments & Highlights Debuted March 21, 2024 vs Slovakia; appeared in U21 qualifiers ahead of senior call-up.  |
| Spain Senior Team | Years Active 2025–present Caps 4 caps, 0 goals, 1 assist Key Tournaments & Highlights Senior debut on 20 March 2025 vs Netherlands in UEFA Nations League quarter-final; came on for injured Pau Cubarsí in 41st minute; played both legs, earned hostile reception in Rotterdam; assist in return leg sent Spain through on penalties. [!]  |
Major Achievements at Club Level | |
| Club Honours (Team) | Club / Season Juventus Next Gen (2022–23) Achievement / Record Coppa Italia Serie C – Runner-up (lost final on penalties to Vicenza) |
| Premier League Record | Club / Season AFC Bournemouth (2024–25) Achievement / Record Became youngest-ever Bournemouth Premier League goalscorer, with decisive header vs Tottenham on 5 Dec 2024. |
| PFA Recognition | Premier League (2025) Nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year 2024–25. [!] |
| Transfer Milestone | Real Madrid (2025) Became most expensive central defender in Real Madrid’s history with €59.5M release clause triggered. [!] |
Notable Transfers | |
| Juventus → Bournemouth | Fee / Terms €15.2M (≈£12.6M) initial, rising to €18.2M via add-ons; Juve retained resale percentage (~10%). Why He Transferred Juventus reportedly needed funds and had backup defenders; Bournemouth offered regular first-team football. (Simon Francis quote from BBC) [!] |
| Bournemouth → Real Madrid | Fee / Terms £50M release clause activation (€59.5M), five-year contract until 2030. Record fee for Real as a defender. Why He Transferred Huijsen impressed in the Premier League and made Spain debut. Real Madrid saw him as a future leader in defense. [!] Media & Fan Reaction Bournemouth fans praised the club for making a big profit. Real Madrid fans were excited, but some experts warned it was a risk due to his age and limited top-level experience. |
Quotes from Coaches & Influences | |
| José Mourinho | “He’s an 18-year-old kid with just ten minutes in Serie A. He’s one of the highest quality prospects in European football at his age. He will be a great footballer in the future.” [!] |
| Massimiliano Allegri | “Huijsen entered the game serene and calm … he reads the game like a great player. He does things like Ciro Ferrara.” [!] |
| Dean Huijsen | “I learned a lot from Mourinho and De Rossi… De Rossi was like a second father to me.” ~ (speaking on Mourinho & De Rossi) [!] |
Media Praise & Recognition | |
| Managing Madrid | Quoted him saying: “Every kid dreams of playing for Real Madrid… very happy and really proud to be here.” also highlighted his unity with squad and support for Xabi Alonso’s vision. [!] |
| Real Madrid official presentation | President Florentino Pérez called him “one of the world’s greatest centre‑backs to burst onto the football scene.” Public welcome speech endorsed potential. [!] |
| OneTurf news | Huijsen said: “I think I did well in my debut… we were better than expected… we have to keep working.” Xabi Alonso praised him: “Thrilled… they have personality and quality.” [!] |
| The Guardian | Praised for his maturity and composure: Iraola and staff recognized how his “aggressive, front‑foot style” and football IQ suited Bournemouth perfectly. “The 6ft 5in Huijsen oozes the kind of confidence Bournemouth noted…” [!] |
Playing Style & Role | |
| Primary Role on the Pitch | Primary Position Centre-back, usually deployed as the left-sided central defender in a back four or back three. Despite being right-footed, he comfortably plays on either side. Tactical Role Often referred to as a “centre-halfback” or ball-playing centre-back: he initiates attacks from the back, makes long diagonals, steps into midfield under pressure, and breaks lines with his passing. |
| Tactical Behavior | Positioning • Often plays as the left-sided centre-back in a back four (e.g. in Iraola’s 4‑2‑3‑1) or as left centre in a back three under Real Madrid. • Defends proactively in front of the backline—stepping into midfield to intercept or duel early. Then recovers into position. [!] Transition Play • In counter-press and transitions, he aggressively steps into midfield, prodding the ball loose and triggering second-phase recovery. • In possession, acts as a deep-lying playmaker, completing 4 progressive passes and 6–7 long passes per 90—among top Premier League defenders. [!] Preferred Formations • Thrives in a 4‑2‑3‑1 under Iraola at Bournemouth, his front-foot defending and passing complementing a pressing, transitional system. • Also fits a back-three or back-four at Real Madrid under Alonso, offering flexibility and ball progression ability in both structures. |
| Physical Traits | Speed / Acceleration FIFA rating: Pace 64, Acceleration 60, Sprint 68 (EA SPORTS FC 25). Shows respectable but not elite speed for a 6’5″ centre-back. [!] Stamina FIFA stamina rating: 60/99. Combined with Premier League play, suggests good playing time durability but not standout endurance. Strength FIFA strength: 68/99, weight ~84 kg suggests solid build; excels in physical duels and pressing scenarios. Aerial Ability Aerial duel success 66% per model data; won 62.5% of headed duels in 2024–25. Frequently targeted in set-pieces. Displayed 3 headed Premier League goals. [!] |
| Strengths | Ball-Playing & Passing Range Ranks 3rd in the Premier League for interceptions per 90 and 6th for blocks, reflecting his strong anticipation and spatial reading. [!] Elite Passing from Defence Has the highest pass completion rate among Bournemouth starters (84.3%) and ranks 3rd among PL centre‑backs for progressive passes per 90 (4.0). [!] Progressive Ball-Carrying & Composure Consistently among top-tier defenders in progressive carries (98th percentile) and maintains composure in high-pressure build-up phases. |
| Weaknesses | Ground Duels & Agility Limitations Struggles in tight ground duels due to his tall frame; success rate around 52%, lower than elite centre-back peers. Forced to rely on fouls when out of position. Frequent Tactical Fouls & Discipline Averaged 0.34 yellow cards per game, ranking highly for fouls committed in the league; often due to mistimed challenges when recovering. Decision-Making Under Pressure In high-speed transitions or tight marking (e.g. Roma vs Udinese), Huijsen sometimes misjudged situations and lost control of the ball, leading to goals conceded. [!] |
Injuries & Suspensions | |
| Adductor Strain | Date / Duration Jan 23–28, 2024 ~ Missed about 6 days after muscle strain while at Bournemouth; missed one match. |
| Foot Bruise | Date / Duration Mar 10–14, 2023 ~ Suffered bruise to foot during Juventus Next Gen season; missed one reserve game. [!] |
| Red Card Suspension | Date / Duration Jul 5, 2025 onwards ~ Sent off against Dortmund in Club World Cup QF for last-man foul; issued automatic one-match ban. [!] |
Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 14 April 2005 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 20 years |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Nationality | Spanish, Dutch (dual citizenship; represents Spain internationally) |
| Place of Birth | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Ethnicity | Dutch |
| Controversies | Red Card at Club World Cup 2025 Sent off in the 96th minute vs Borussia Dortmund for denying a goal; Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois criticized the challenge as “unnecessary.” Xabi Alonso admitted he hadn’t planned without Huijsen. [!] Hostile Reception by Netherlands Fans During Spain senior debut vs Netherlands (March 2025), Huijsen was jeered by fans who viewed his national team switch as “betrayal.” Despite hostility, he played strongly. [!] Cannabis Use Allegation Incident During a podcast interview he was awkwardly asked if he used cannabis due to “sleepy eyes.” Huijsen denied use, attributed appearance to genetics, and handled it with composure. [!] Juventus Sale Regret (per media) Juventus widely criticized for selling Huijsen prematurely in 2024; journalists described the move as “hasty” and “not intelligent,” given his potential and later value. [!] Reported Training Isolation Post-Roma Loan After returning from Roma, Huijsen claimed Juventus forced him to train alone, expressing frustration at lack of first-team opportunity. Family and player dispute handling methods. [!] |
| Social Media | — Instagram — TikTok |
Relationship & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | No confirmed partner |
Family | |
| Parents | Father – Donny Huijsen (former professional footballer, forward; played for Jong Ajax and other Dutch clubs) Mother – Mascha Wijsmuller  |
| Siblings | Two older brothers (Donny and Daimen) |
Financial Profile & Career Contracts | |
| Market Value | €42M–€60M as of May–July 2025. Value surged from €10M to €42M in a season; ETV (FootballTransfers) estimates €58.1M–€71M, current value €60M as per Transfermarkt |
| Salary Estimates | At Real Madrid: €9M gross/year in year one, rising to €11M in the final season, equating to €173K/week gross. At Bournemouth: £860K/year (£16.5K/week). [!] |
| Net Worth | Estimated €10M–15M net worth as of mid‑2025 (derived from first‐season salary, endorsements, and transfer windfall). Not officially confirmed but aligned with earnings. [!] |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dean Huijsen speak Spanish?
Yes — Huijsen moved to Marbella, Spain, with his family at age five, grew up in the Andalusian region, and even speaks with a Spanish accent. He officially became a Spanish citizen in February 2024. He can fluently speak Spanish, Dutch, English, and Italian.
Why did Juventus sell Huijsen?
Juventus needed to balance their books under UEFA Financial Fair Play rules and had depth in defence. Huijsen stated they told him he had to leave and even forced him to train alone when he returned after his Roma loan, suggesting first-team chances were limited.
Why does Dean Huijsen play for Spain?
Though born in Amsterdam and initially capped by Netherlands youth teams, Huijsen moved to Spain at five and felt Spanish, declaring his decision after receiving Spanish citizenship in February 2024. He made his senior debut for Spain in March 2025.
How much did Real Madrid pay for Dean Huijsen?
Real Madrid activated his release clause worth ~£50M (€59.5–60M) to sign him in May 2025. The fee is to be paid in instalments. Juventus and Málaga also receive training compensation percentages.
What ethnicity is Dean Huijsen?
Huijsen is Dutch-born to Dutch father Donny Huijsen (ex-Jong Ajax), but raised in Spain since childhood. He is a Spanish national of Dutch origin, holding dual identity.