Real Madrid signs Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth on a five-year contract.

Huijsen, 20, will join the Spanish side on a deal through to 2030 and could make his debut in next month’s newly-expanded Club World Cup.

Madrid had activated the release clause in the defender’s contract on Thursday and were finalising a deal to bring him to the Bernabeu with the plan to pay the £50million (€59.4m; $64.8m) fee across three instalments as per reports by The Athletic.

What did Carlo Ancelotti say?

“Huijsen is a great player, young, with a lot of projection and potential,” outgoing Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said at his press conference on Saturday. “The signing is very good for Real Madrid.”

Madrid shall begin their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 when they face Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. They will also play Mexican side Pachuca and Austrian side RB Salzburg in the group stage.

Huijsen: ‘A timely cure to Madrid’s defensive woes’

Real Madrid jumped ahead of several clubs in their pursuit of the defender due to their desire to register him in time for this summer’s tournament.

Chelsea had previously enquired about the availability of the centre-back while fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Newcastle United have also held interest.

Huijsen had joined Bournemouth on a six-year deal in the summer of 2024 for a fee of €15million (£12.6m) from Juventus, where he made one senior appearance and played 14 games on loan at Roma.

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At the international level, the Amsterdam-born played for the Netherlands at the under-19 level before switching to Spain, who he has represented twice at senior level.

Madrid have faced a defensive crisis this season with serious injuries to Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, with midfielders Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni often playing in defence.