Xabi Alonso lands Premier League star for Real Madrid before arriving as manager

Xabi Alonso lands Premier League star for Real Madrid before arriving as manager

Bournemouth have confirmed defender Dean Huijsen will join Real Madrid at the end of the season in a £50million deal.

Huijsen held talks with several Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, having impressed in his breakthrough season at the Vitality Stadium.

5 Huijsen has been a breakout start for Bournemouth this season Credit: Getty

5 Huijsen will leave Bournemouth this summer Credit: Getty

Xabi Alonso, who is widely-expected to take the reigns at the Bernebeu after confirming his Bayer Leverkusen exit, quickly identified the Spain international as a top-priority target.

And the incoming manager already has his first signing before arriving at Madrid.

talkSPORT understands Alonso spoke to Huijsen in recent days and drove the club's speedy swoop for the 20-year-old.

Madrid, who have tracked Huijsen since he was 16, have offered him a £7.5m package which could rise to £9.2m.

Sources in Spain claim Premier League clubs offered more money but Huijsen only wanted Madrid.

The Spanish giants will pay Bournemouth in three instalments between now and 2026.

A Cherries statement read: "AFC Bournemouth can confirm that defender Dean Huijsen will join Real Madrid following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, with the Spanish side having activated a £50million release clause."

The club added: "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."

Huijsen is expected to move to Real in time to play at the Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 15.

If the move to Madrid had not materialised, his preferred destination would have been Liverpool, followed by Arsenal.

5 Incoming Real Madrid boss Alonso is an admirer of Huijsen's Credit: Getty

5 The Spaniard could join Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real's backline next summer, who is expected to join the Spanish giants Credit: Getty

Real Madrid are also believed to have an interest in both Reds' centre-back Ibrahima Konate, whose contract expires next summer, and Gunners defender William Saliba.

News of the reigning LaLiga champions' pursuit of Huijsen comes after talkSPORT reported last month that Chelsea had stepped up their interest in him.

Huijsen will be a standout signing in what could be another extravagant summer for the European giants.

They are already set to announce the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the last two summer transfer windows have seen Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe head to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Huijsen has become one of the most sought-after centre-backs in European football after an impressive campaign.

5 Huijsen has started all but six of Bournemouth's Premier League games this season Credit: Getty

The former Juventus youngster has been a mainstay in Bournemouth's defence this term, playing 30 Premier League games, and scoring three goals to put his side in the hunt for European qualification.

His club form was also rewarded with international recognition, as Huijsen made his senior debut for Spain in March.

Although the Amsterdam-born Huijsen has been warned of the potential pitfalls of joining Real Madrid.

In a interview with The Sun in April, his old youth coach Juanito shared his fears Huijsen would face drastically reduced minutes given the wealth of centre-back talent already at the Bernabeu.

Juanito said: “Dean is going to be a leader no matter where he goes, so I hope whoever signs him they play him as a starter, and he’s not a project for the future.

"He is a player for now. There are very few like that at his age, which is why I don’t know to what extent it would be a good option to sign for Real.

“No one can guarantee you’ll play because of your pretty face but if he leaves Bournemouth, it shouldn’t be to sit on the bench.

He explained: “At Madrid, Eder Militao is 27 and Antonio Rudiger is in his second youth.

“Those two are untouchable and a recovered David Alaba would also be ahead of him.

"Carlo Ancelotti is an incredible manager but not a coach for young players — so Dean would be fourth-choice centre-back. That’s the reality."

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