Real Madrid agree £50m to sign Spanish defender

Real Madrid are set to sign Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen after agreeing to pay the defender's £50m release clause.

The Spain international, 20, is close to agreeing personal terms with the La Liga club, turning down a number of offers to remain in England.

Madrid will activate the release clause in Huijsen's Bournemouth contract, which he signed less than 12 months ago.

The fee will be paid in three instalments, with Huijsen's two former clubs set to receive a slice of the fee - Juventus are due 10% and Malaga 5%.

Real wanted to complete the signing before next month's inaugural Club World Cup in the US.

Huijsen had as many as seven offers on the table, and had attracted interest from Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle.

Huijsen has chosen Real and will return to Spain where he grew up, playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga's youth team.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real manager, has been instrumental in the decision to sign the defender and prioritised signing a young centre-back.

Huijsen joined Bournemouth from Juventus last summer for a fee of £12.6m.

The Netherlands-born defender has made 34 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries this season, scoring three times.

Huijsen is set to become Madrid's second signing from the Premier League this summer, with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also set to move to the Spanish capital.

Huijsen was subject of an international tug-of-war between the Netherlands, where he was born, and Spain, where he was raised.

He opted to play for Spain, and made his debut for the 2024 European Championship winners against the Netherlands in March 2025.