Virgil van Dijk-esque Dean Huijsen Could Prove a €60m Bargain for Real Madrid

Real Madrid Secure Rising Star Dean Huijsen in 2025 Summer Transfer Window

In a summer already buzzing with blockbuster deals and surprise switches, Real Madrid‘s move for Dean Huijsen might just turn out to be the most shrewd of the lot. With transfer fees spiraling into the stratosphere, the Spanish giants have managed to snap up one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs for a fee just under €60 million. Not bad for a player whose comparison to Virgil van Dijk is starting to feel less like a compliment and more like a prophecy.

Huijsen’s rise has been rapid, almost dizzying. Barely a year ago, he was turning out for Bournemouth after a brief but formative spell at Juventus. During his time in England, he made headlines by becoming the club’s youngest-ever Premier League goal-scorer with a late winner against Tottenham. That kind of maturity and composure at such a tender age didn’t go unnoticed, least of all by Real Madrid.

Bournemouth’s Bittersweet Farewell: Business Over Sentiment

Dean Huijsen Bournemouth 2024-2025

For Bournemouth, Huijsen’s departure is a mixed bag. On one hand, they’re losing a central pillar in a defense that surprised many in the Premier League. On the other, they’ve just made a monumental profit in less than a year, turning their initial £12.8m investment into a nearly fivefold return. It’s the sort of business model that smaller clubs dream of implementing: find the talent early, give them the stage, and sell smart.

It stings, sure. But if you’re going to lose a player, losing him to Real Madrid is about as good as it gets in terms of prestige. Grade: B

Dean Huijsen and the Real Madrid Rebuild

Madrid’s backline has been creaking under the weight of injuries and time. The absence of stalwarts like David Alaba and Eder Militao for significant stretches of last season exposed the vulnerability of Carlo Ancelotti’s otherwise indomitable squad. Huijsen, with his aerial prowess, composure, and uncanny anticipation, arrives as both an immediate solution and a long-term investment.

His time in Spain as a youth player at Malaga means he’s already acclimated to the language, the culture, and the footballing tempo. That cultural familiarity will help him settle faster than your average foreign signing. It’s also worth noting that Huijsen turned down Madrid earlier in his youth career, opting to hone his defensive skills in Italy—a decision that has clearly paid off. Grade: A

Huijsen’s Fairytale: From Bournemouth to the Bernabeu

Let’s not gloss over the fairytale aspect of this deal. Huijsen’s journey from the English south coast to the grandeur of the Santiago Bernabeu is what dreams are made of. It’s rare to see a player this young display such maturity, and rarer still to see him take that next step so confidently.

He may have idolized Sergio Ramos growing up, but if he plays his cards right, he might just carve his own legacy in white. Given his trajectory, temperament, and technical ability, don’t be surprised if he becomes a mainstay in Madrid’s lineup for the next decade. Grade: A+

Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool: Replacing Trent With Firepower

Bayer Leverkusen Lose Key Piece of Their Golden Era

Jeremie Frimpong Liverpool GFX

Leverkusen fans knew this was coming. When your club goes undefeated, wins a double, and plays some of the most attractive football in Europe, your stars are bound to be poached. With Xabi Alonso heading to Real Madrid and Jeremie Frimpong now Liverpool-bound, it’s the beginning of a new chapter in Leverkusen.

Still, there’s a hint of frustration. Frimpong’s release clause was a modest £30 million, and with Celtic entitled to a tidy sum from that fee, Leverkusen might feel shortchanged. Given his influence and age, they could have easily commanded double that in an open market. Grade: D

Liverpool’s Masterstroke: Frimpong the Perfect Fit

With Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Spain, Liverpool needed a solution—and fast. Enter Jeremie Frimpong. While he may not possess Trent’s pinpoint crossfield passes, Frimpong brings an entirely different dynamic. He’s electric going forward, a genuine attacking threat, and arguably more natural in the final third.

With over 38 goal involvements over two seasons, he’s the most productive right-back in Europe. That statistic alone makes the modest fee look like a steal. Whether he plays as a wing-back or gets a more advanced role under Arne Slot, Frimpong is set to be a crowd favorite. Grade: A

Frimpong’s Return to England: A Destiny Fulfilled

Frimpong almost joined Liverpool as a teen but ended up at Manchester City instead. He never made the senior team, but this move to Anfield feels like destiny delayed, not denied. With Dutch teammates around him and a Dutch coach at the helm, he should integrate seamlessly.

Expect him to thrive—and maybe even take on a more attacking role in the years to come. Grade: A

Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid: A Transfer That Shook Anfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid GFX

Liverpool’s Painful Loss

Let’s not sugarcoat it—this one hurts. Losing a homegrown superstar for nothing is tough to swallow. Losing him to Real Madrid? That’s agony. Fans have vented their frustration and rightly so. This isn’t just a missed opportunity for profit; it’s a massive footballing loss.

Blame lies at the top. Letting a player of his caliber run down his contract shows poor squad management and could haunt Liverpool for years. Grade: F

Madrid’s Free Transfer Brilliance

If there’s one club that knows how to play the free agent game, it’s Real Madrid. After snapping up Alaba, Rudiger, and Mbappe without transfer fees, they’ve done it again with Alexander-Arnold. He brings world-class passing, vision, and offensive threat—a dream addition for any manager, especially one like Xabi Alonso who favors attacking full-backs.

Defensive concerns persist, but Madrid know exactly how to use a weapon like Trent. Grade: A+

Alexander-Arnold: A Risk Worth Taking?

Leaving the club you grew up in, the city that raised you, and the fans who adored you is always risky. Doing it for a free transfer to Madrid, especially after the club’s repeated dominance over Liverpool in Europe? That’s controversial.

But Trent made this decision knowing the backlash. He wants more. He wants individual accolades. A Ballon d’Or? Unlikely, but not impossible. Madrid will give him the platform. It’s now up to him to seize it. Grade: B