The Blues find themselves in pole position to sign the centre-back this summer and must not let the opportunity pass them by
Dean Huijsen is set to be at the centre of one of the summer's most compelling (or tedious) transfer sagas. A stellar debut season in the Premier League combined with a relatively low-cost £50 million ($66.5m) release clause has resulted in the Bournemouth centre-back topping defensive shopping lists for plenty of Europe's biggest hitters.
That includes Chelsea, who are likely to undertake a clear-out of their overloaded, underperforming backline in the coming months and are in dire need of top-quality, long-term solutions in an area of the pitch that has caused recurrent issues in recent times.
Despite a turgid struggle to qualify for the Champions League next season and rival interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid, the Blues somehow find themselves in pole position to land the young Spain international, and it has become an opportunity they simply can't afford to pass up.
Getty Images SportArea of need
There is no doubt that Chelsea's defence has been much improved under Enzo Maresca after the Blues shipped more league goals last season (63) than they have in any other in the Premier League era. They have conceded just 40 this time around with four games to go, giving them the fourth-best defensive record in the division.
However, you would struggle to pick out an individual defender as a key reason for that new-found staunchness, which is largely the result of increased collective solidity and the tireless midfield work of Moises Caicedo, who is a shoo-in for the west Londoners' Player of the Season award.
Indeed, the central defence actually feels alarmingly transient at the moment; Wesley Fofana's injury problems have persisted and his body can't be relied upon; Tosin Adarabioyo arrived on a free transfer but clearly isn't a long-term solution; Trevoh Chalobah was recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace but he could just as easily be forced out again in the summer; Levi Colwill still has some way to go to reach the level many thought he would be capable of; Benoit Badiashile and Aston Villa loanee Axel Disasi clearly don't have Maresca's trust.
The lack of stability in that department has been reflected in Maresca's use of various centre-back pairings in Fofana's absence, as he struggles to find the right balance of defensive acumen and the ball-playing ability that his possession-based style requires.
There is a realistic scenario where, of those six options, only Fofana and Colwill remain after the summer transfer window – highlighting the need for quality options in that area. Huijsen would undoubtedly elevate the backline and provide both consistency and longevity. It would be little surprise if he wasn't the only arrival, either, amid interest in bringing back academy graduate Marc Guehi from Palace, as well as Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite.
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In his outstanding debut season in the Premier League with Bournemouth, Huijsen has demonstrated all the attributes that possession-obsessed Maresca would want from his centre-backs – press resistance, the ability to pick a pass and the confidence to carry the ball forward to progress play when the opportunity arises. That was exemplified on his Spain debut, as he clipped an inch-perfect pass over the Netherlands defence to assist Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.
The youngster doesn't shirk the defensive fundamentals, either, showing an aptitude in ground and aerial duels (his rangy 6'6 frame helps) while not hesitating to crunch into tackles. Huijsen has made more interceptions than any other Premier League player in 2025 (32) and ranks very highly for clearances and shots blocked per 90 minutes, too. Per 's metrics, he is the highest-rated centre-back under the age of 21 in Europe's top five leagues this season.
Huijsen would not just be another stop-gap; having just turned 20, he fits within the Blues policy of trying to target the best young talent around and he has the potential to become a defensive leader for the present and the future. Whether Chelsea give up on Fofana remains to be seen, but the Dutch-born Spain international looks primed to either step into the Frenchman's shoes or slot in alongside him, with his two-footedness making him capable of playing at right or left centre-back.
Getty Images SportMourinho-approved
Understandably, there will be sections of the Chelsea support that aren't convinced that someone as young as Huijsen can be a viable long-term solution for a club of their size – especially given the Blues' recent record with relatively-unproven-yet-extremely-costly new signings.
However, they can be emboldened by the fact that Jose Mourinho was the man who gave the Spaniard his big break when he joined Roma on loan from Juventus in January 2024, not long before the Portuguese was sacked, and the revered ex-Chelsea manager had absolutely no doubts over the defender's potential.
"We all know who he is," Mourinho said ahead of Huijsen's debut. "He is an 18-year-old boy who has played 10 minutes in Serie A, but he is one of the highest quality prospects in European football at this age level. He will be a great footballer in the future.
"He has great confidence in himself. He has no Serie A experience, but he has confidence typical of a player with lots of potential."
Huijsen told of Mourinho's praise: "Jose was great even though I wasn't with him for too long. He was really good to me and he gave me an opportunity and I’ll always be grateful for that. He believed in me and I think someone that big believing in you is very special, especially for a young guy coming through. For someone that big to say what he said is really special and it only gives you confidence as a player."
Getty'Everyone sees now'
After Roma decided against signing Huijsen permanently, Bournemouth's £13m ($17m) capture of the then-19-year-old last summer is now looking like an incredibly shrewd piece of business. Even if he only ends up spending a solitary season on the south coast, the Cherries are set for a handsome profit.
Head coach Andoni Iraola recognised his ability immediately. "I think you have the feeling in the first trainings," he said. "You feel the player, you see the qualities straight away. I didn't know about his mentality because when you sign someone that is 19, you see, okay, it looks like he’s going to be a good player.
"But you are not sure if he's ready to perform straight away against the best opposition. That is what he's facing in the Premier League. And he showed since the first day, I think he started playing the season against Forest. Once he got a good run of games, everyone sees now that he's a very good centre-back."
Outlining the defender's best attribute, Iraola said: "I think his mentality, his head. I think he's confident. He is not afraid of marking any forward and I think he's calm on the ball. He knows what he's doing, he's under control. Sometimes he will make mistakes like all the others, but there is always a reason for the things he does.
"And for someone that is 19, it's really strange to find this at this level."
