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Dean Huijsen’s £50m move to Real Madrid caps off a remarkable rise for a defender who was struggling to get in the Bournemouth team seven months earlier.

The 20-year-old Spain centre-back became one of the Premier League’s most consistent centre-backs, after replacing the injured Marcos Senesi in December.

The Cherries almost quadrupled their money, having paid a maximum of £15m to sign him from Juventus last summer.

Huijsen ranks highly in many different categories for Premier League defenders to play at least 1,000 minutes this season, per 90 minutes.

On top of that, in his 30 Premier League appearances, he has scored three important goals – a winner against Tottenham, opener against Manchester United and equaliser against Arsenal – all in wins.

Jordan Clark, BBC Radio Solent’s Bournemouth commentator, has been hugely impressed by the youngster.

“He looks like he’s a second ahead of the strikers,” he says. “He reads the game so well. He’s a brilliant ball player, playing it out from the back, and he’s defensively strong, physically solid.

“It’s tough to see any downsides to his game. He does the basic things well. If a player is under pressure you see modern-day defenders take risks and play it out from the back.

“But he’ll assess the situation quickly and if he feels the pass isn’t on, he’ll just put the ball out of play. It’s like an old-school defender; no risks, if in doubt put it out.”

Huijsen actually began the season in the starting XI before dropping to the bench for a few months before Senesi’s injury.

“He played the first game at Forest and I remember saying on commentary it was the first time we’d seen him properly, a 19-year-old, but he looked like he’d been playing in the Premier League for years.

“He had something about him physically, he dealt brilliantly with Chris Wood but the ball playing as well was impressive. He stood out that day. But then he had to wait for his opportunity.”

The CIES Football Observatory recently put Huijsen second in the world of 2024-25 signings whose values have risen, saying the Cherries could have made a £57.7m profit had he not had a release clause.

His form this season saw him make his senior Spain debut. Born in the Netherlands but raised in Spain, he had represented both nations at youth level.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said they had been monitoring him for years and he “isn’t some new discovery”.

“There are many players – and this is the best news for Spanish football – who today are still unknown to the general public and even some in the media, but not to us inside the federation,” he said.

Juventus will be kicking themselves as they were the ones who wanted Huijsen to leave last summer.

The 20-year-old joined Juve from Malaga’s academy in 2021 – with Huijsen turning down the chance to join Real instead that summer.

He only played one senior game for Juve, spending the second half of last season on loan at Roma.

Huijsen told Gazzetta he wanted to play for Juventus this season but was told the club needed to sell him for financial reasons and forced him out.

Not their wisest decision, especially since they went on to sign Newcastle’s former Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly for £20m in January.

In April, Bournemouth technical director Simon Francis told BBC Radio Solent: “Juventus might be scratching their heads at that now [how the English club got him for so cheap].

“We found a fortunate time to take him out of there. [Bournemouth president of football operations] Tiago Pinto had worked closely with him before [at Roma] and gave us reassurance.

“The idea was for him to come in as back-up and learn but through injury there was the opportunity for him to come into the team and he’s been there ever since.”

Huijsen was wanted by most of Europe’s top clubs – including Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bayern Munich.

BBC Sport football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella says Real told the player they would continue watching his career when he turned them down for Juve aged 16.

“He will sign on a five-year deal with a salary of 9m euros (£7.6m) gross but expected to rise to 11m (£9.3) by the end of his contract,” said Kinsella.

“Madrid found it challenging convincing his father and agents to go for Madrid with Juni Calafat and Jose Angel Sanchez handling negotiations. They believe they were offering less than some clubs in England for his signature.

“The sporting project convinced Huijsen as Real told him they will build their defence around him for the next decade and believe he fits Xabi Alonso’s system of playing out from the back.

“Madrid wanted him regardless but Alonso spoke to him and approved the deal.”

Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso is set to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Real boss before the Fifa Club World Cup.

Real Madrid have signed defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth in time to play in the Club World Cup after the Spanish giants activated his £50m release clause.

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal which will allow him to debut at the newly expanded tournament in the United States.

Both clubs confirmed the move with Madrid saying that one-time Spain international Huijsen will officially join on 1 June.

Their first match of the Club World Cup is against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on 18 June.

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%.

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.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who gave Huijsen his international debut, says the defender is “ready” for the move to the Bernabeu.

“I see him – if nothing gets in the way – as capable of playing for any team,” De La Fuente told BBC Sport.

Tiago Pinto, Bournemouth’s president of football operations, was crucial in the signing of Huijsen.

The Portuguese joined the Cherries from Roma in 2024, where he was general manager.

He was key in landing Huijsen, having watched the former Roma defender on loan at the Stadio Olimpico that season.

Those with knowledge of the negotiations say Pinto knew he could exploit Juventus’ need to sell players.

This is despite one source in Turin saying they thought Huijsen could become “world class” even when he started out in their academy teams.

Bournemouth ended up signing Huijsen for £12.6m, in a deal potentially rising to £15m.

After an injury to team-mate Marcos Senesi, Huijsen broke into Bournemouth’s starting XI and hasn’t looked back.

He was exceptional on his third Premier League start, scoring a towering header in a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Vitality Stadium in December.

He has been an ever-present in Andoni Iraola’s defence since.

What has become very clear, not just at Real Madrid but at all the top teams, is that there are players that cannot last a whole season and cannot play three games in a row.

It is nothing to do with training or bad preparation, it is just the physical demands.

Real feel there are some areas of the team that need reinforcements and central defence is one of them.

In Huijsen, they see someone that can maintain the level of the Premier League, who has the physicality to deal with it and is still developing.

Olympic triathlon double bronze medallist Beth Potter returned to action with second place in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama.

Potter, who was 14th for Great Britain over 10km in last month’s European Road Running Championships, finished four seconds behind Luxembourg’s Jeanne Lehair with Germany’s Lisa Tertsch in third, two seconds back.

Reigning Olympic and world champion Cassandre Beaugrand of France crashed out on lap six of the bike leg.

Therese Feuersinger of Austria held a narrow lead over Tertsch and Lehair after the swim, with Potter and Beaugrand 14 seconds behind.

Weather conditions resulted in a changed bike course and Potter and the chasing group caught up with the leaders by lap three.

Lehair went clear in the run and held on for victory, despite the Briton running the fastest run leg in the race.

The men’s race was won by Australia’s Matt Hauser, with Ben Dijkstra the leading Briton in eighth and Max Stapley in 11th.

Hauser finished six seconds clear of Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca while Miguel Hidalgo of Brazil, who finished a further 15 seconds back, took bronze.

Venue: Wembley Date: Sunday, 18 May Kick-off: 13: 30 BST

The domestic treble chasers versus the reigning champions.

In Sunday’s FA Cup final at Wembley, Manchester United will battle a Chelsea side for a second successive trophy in the pursuit of their third English silverware this season.

Only the FA Cup and the Women’s Super League titles are left to make Sonia Bompastor’s team’s debut a memorable one. The French manager’s side have already won the Women’s Super League title.

It has been a crucial week for Chelsea off the field.

Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Reddit, stated that her goal is to make Chelsea the “next global women’s sports brand,” and that she intends to purchase an 8 to 10% stake in the club, which is thought to be valued at around £20 million.

Bompastor’s side just wrapped up an unbeaten season in the WSL, winning a sixth consecutive title, and are now aiming for FA Cup glory, which Emma Hayes did once in her trophy-filled 12-year tenure with the club.

We’re really focused on that, because it will be something exceptional for the club to have the chance to win another trophy. All our attention will now be on the possibility of a historical season combining the treble,” she said.

Chelsea is yet to win the FA Cup, but Bompastor’s first season may see her team finish with an unbeaten domestic campaign.

“It would be a really enjoyable season,” he declared. We’ve missed one significant trophy, Bompastor said, making it not perfect.

Manchester United have reached the FA Cup final three times in a row, and they want to do it again.

Before making a triumphant return to Wembley 12 months ago, beating Tottenham 4-0 to claim their first major piece of silverware, United experienced defeat from Chelsea in their first FA Cup final appearance in 2023.

On the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, former England international Ellen White said, “The fact that Manchester United could win back-to-back FA Cup finals is quite extraordinary when we consider all the things that have been discussed behind the scenes.”

“I didn’t believe they would perform as well as they did this season.” They have accomplished incredible things. They have worked tirelessly, they haven’t moaned, they haven’t spoken up, and they have worked unafraidly.”

Fans were then critical of manager Skinner, who had suggested that United should be performing better than they should have been.

With Skinner’s side qualifying for the Champions League next season along with their FA Cup run, that criticism now seems like a long time ago.

“I’m here to deliver trophies, qualify for the Champions League, and do what everyone else thinks is impossible, which is to try to win the league,” said Skinner.

“Sometimes I live with the fairies because I believe we can win every game, but I believe there is always a chance of winning.”

We are rebels, we say. Because they have the best resources, they don’t have to be the best team on every occasion because I’m a rebel because of my nature. It’s about accepting that.

You know you will have to endure hell to win the victory when you set yourself up for that challenge.

Chelsea and Manchester United have won once in their 13 meetings, winning 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final last year.

However, Skinner claimed that in front of the 85, 350 expected crowd, his team would have “no fear” facing the five-time Olympians.

“They have accomplished something incredible this season,” he said without a fright. We must be completely focused and focused on things like this,” he said.

A small victory in the psychological conflict with Skinner would give United a chance to defeat Chelsea’s treble-winning team, giving him a chance to win the game and ultimately putting his hopes in jeopardy.

White remarked, “It’s huge to kick them off their pedestal by winning the treble.”

Women’s FA Cup final: Chelsea v Manchester United

Venue: Wembley Date: Sunday, 18 May Kick-off: 13:30 BST

The defending champions versus the domestic treble chasers.

Manchester United will go for a second consecutive FA Cup trophy against a Chelsea side in hot pursuit of their third piece of English silverware this season in Sunday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Sonia Bompastor’s side have already added the Women’s Super League title to their League Cup triumph and only the FA Cup remains to make it a memorable first season for the French manager.

Off the pitch, it has been a momentous week for Chelsea.

Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian has bought an 8-10% stake in the club believed to be worth about £20m, stating an ambition to make Chelsea the “next global women’s sports brand”.

On it, Bompastor’s side have just completed an unbeaten season in the WSL, winning a sixth consecutive title, and are now eyeing FA Cup glory to complete a domestic treble, something her predecessor Emma Hayes achieved once in her trophy-laden 12 years with the club.

“To have the opportunity to win another trophy will be something exceptional for the club, we’re really focused on that. We know we can have a historical season with the treble so all our focus is on that goal,” she said.

Champions League glory continues to elude Chelsea but Bompastor’s first season could end in an unbeaten domestic campaign should her side win the FA Cup.

“It would be a really good season. Not a perfect one because we’ve missed one big trophy,” said Bompastor.

Manchester United are aiming to go back-to-back in the FA Cup having reached the final in three successive campaigns.

United tasted defeat by Chelsea in their maiden FA Cup final appearance in 2023, before making a triumphant return to Wembley 12 months ago, beating Tottenham 4-0 to claim their first major piece of silverware.

“The fact for Manchester United it is their third final in a row and they could win back-to-back FA Cup finals is quite extraordinary when we think about all the things that have been spoken about behind the scenes,” said former England striker Ellen White on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast.

“I didn’t think they would do as well as they did this season. They have done amazingly. They have gone under the radar, they haven’t moaned, they haven’t come out and said anything and they have worked relentlessly hard.”

Criticism was then levelled at boss Skinner, with fans unhappy that he did not confront the issues as well as suggesting United should be performing better than they were.

That criticism now feels like a long time ago with Skinner’s side qualifying for next season’s Champions League alongside their FA Cup run.

“I’m here to deliver trophies and qualify for the Champions League and do what everyone else thinks is impossible, which is to try to win the league,” said Skinner.

“I live with the fairies sometimes because I think we can win every game but when you are in a final you have every chance of winning it.

“We’re rebels. I’m a rebel, my nature is rebellious so it’s about not just accepting – because they have the best resources, they don’t have to be the best team on every occasion.

“When you set yourself up for that challenge, you know you will have to go through hell to get the victory.”

Chelsea have come out on top in 13 of their meetings with Manchester United while United have won once – a 2-1 win in last year’s FA Cup semi-final.

But Skinner said his side will have “no fear” against the five-time winners of the competition in front of a predicted crowd of 85,350.

“They have achieved something incredible this season but there is no fear. Events like this is where we have to be fully focused and concentrated,” he said.

Preventing Chelsea from winning the treble would give United a small win in the psychological battle with Skinner making his ambition of competing with, and ultimately toppling, the standard bearers in this country clear.

“Stopping them winning the treble is huge, knock them off their pedestal,” said White.