Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth’s rising star, is on the brink of a significant career milestone as he prepares to join Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have triggered the 20-year-old centre-back’s £50 million release clause, with the transfer set to be finalized at the end of the Premier League season. As Bournemouth faces Manchester City and Leicester in their final matches, manager Andoni Iraola has expressed his admiration for Huijsen’s development and readiness for this next step.
Andoni Iraola said: “I think for someone that is just 20, I think he has managed these situations quite well. He’s the first one that wants to finish well this season. He’s pushing and he’s ready to play these two games. Obviously, from my side, you never want to lose this kind of player because he has been very good for us. But there is a part also that you feel happy for him because he goes to Real Madrid, I think it’s what he really wanted to do. And obviously we hope everything goes well for him after these two games. And I think it has been quite natural. He hasn’t lost any training sessions. Everyone also has, I think, acted quite natural. And obviously for the club there was a chance that this could happen. And also it gives the club time now in the market also to prepare for next season.”
Iraola continued: “I have no doubt that he’s ready for this jump. Real Madrid is probably the biggest club in the world, or one of the biggest, but I think he has the level. He has the level and not only in the football side, also the maturity, the confidence in himself to go there and perform. It’s not like we received a player that was not very good and then after one season, he has been amazing and we’ve improved him massively. No, when he came here day one, he was very good already.”
Iraola added: “It’s true that we’ve helped him in the process of discovering the Premier League and professional football because he did have very few minutes at a high level and it has been a pleasure for us to help him in this process and we are sure that he’s going to continue this development.”
Huijsen’s transfer to Real Madrid represents a significant opportunity for the young defender to showcase his talents on one of football’s grandest stages. Iraola’s comments reflect a blend of pride and optimism, acknowledging Huijsen’s potential while also recognizing the impact of his departure on Bournemouth. The club now faces the task of preparing for next season, utilizing the time and resources provided by Huijsen’s transfer to strengthen their squad. As Huijsen readies himself for the challenges ahead, his journey from Bournemouth to Madrid is a testament to his skill, maturity, and ambition.
