Dean Huijsen: Why the Real Madrid defender could be this season's breakout star
After a difficult debut campaign at Real Madrid and missing the 2026 World Cup, Dean Huijsen is poised for a fresh start under Jose Mourinho.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Alejandro Ramos
Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid in May 2025 as the most expensive centre-back in the club's history. The £50m move from Bournemouth brought immense expectations, and after David Alaba’s departure, Huijsen inherited the iconic No 4 shirt formerly worn by Sergio Ramos.
However, the 21-year-old’s debut season was a testing experience. A strong start at the Club World Cup was disrupted by a series of thigh injuries and the team's wider defensive instability. A chaotic campaign under changing management saw his confidence dip, and ultimately, he missed out on the Spain squad for the World Cup.
A dedicated individual training programme during the off-season and the arrival of Jose Mourinho as head coach have provided a much-needed reset. Mourinho, who previously worked with Huijsen during a loan spell at Roma, has shown significant faith in the defender throughout pre-season.
He is very young and is in that process of learning. Luis de la Fuente
Looking ahead, Huijsen is expected to partner summer signing Ibrahima Konate in the heart of the defense. While his concentration levels remain an area for development, the influence of a coach like Mourinho could be the turning point he needs to fully establish himself at the Bernabeu.