Madrid to trigger £50m release clause for Bournemouth’s Huijsen

Real Madrid are closing in on the signing of Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen after agreeing to activate the 20-year-old’s £50 million release clause.

The Spanish international is nearing personal terms with the La Liga giants, having turned down multiple offers to stay in the Premier League. Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle were all reportedly keen on securing his services.

Huijsen, who only joined Bournemouth from Juventus last summer for £12.6 million, has enjoyed a standout season on the south coast, making 34 appearances and scoring three goals in all competitions.

Real Madrid will pay the release clause in three instalments, with former clubs Juventus and Málaga entitled to 10% and 5% of the fee, respectively.

Sources close to the negotiations have confirmed to BBC Sport that the deal is advancing well, with a full agreement expected shortly. Madrid are keen to finalise the signing before next month’s inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Huijsen, born in the Netherlands but raised in Spain, previously played for Costa Unida CF in Marbella and Málaga’s youth academy before moving to Juventus. He later chose to represent Spain at the international level.

His return to Spain is seen as a strategic move by Real Madrid’s incoming manager Xabi Alonso, who has identified centre-back as a priority position. Alonso, currently in charge at Bayer Leverkusen, is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabéu this summer.

Huijsen is poised to become Madrid’s second Premier League signing of the window, following the expected arrival of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.