Bournemouth have signed 19-year-old defender Dean Huijsen from Juventus on a six-year deal.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100 to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 71/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Huijsen excels in advancing the ball from the back, as shown by his 93.9 touches per game, which puts him in the 95th percentile (top five per cent) in comparison to his positional peers. Most of his touches are in the middle third and he likes to be included further up the pitch and circulate the ball with the midfielders.
As shown in an away fixture against Frosinone in February, Huijsen carries the ball from the defensive third, dribbles past the Frosinone players, carves out an opportunity for himself, and scores.
His ability to play a wide range of passes, from short combinations to long crossfield balls, makes him a good ball-playing centre-back. This is ideal for Andoni Iraola’s preferred style, which involves building play from the back and finding players in the pockets to break opposition lines.
In a 2-1 away win against Udinese in April, Huijsen receives the ball, drives into the space ahead and passes Lorenzo Lucca’s press. Huijsen plays a long ball to Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku brings the ball down, lays it off to Houssem Aouar, and starts an attack.
Huijsen’s defensive fundamentals are solid, with a good footballing IQ that allows him to anticipate and shut down threats. His long legs give him an extended reach in tackles and allow him to cover ground quickly and intercept passes. His clearance statistics (4.7 per game) show his proactive nature. His understanding of the game and ability to read the play will be important in Iraola’s high-pressing system, while his quickness and technical ability enable him to contribute to both defensive and attacking phases.
However, at 19 and with only 522 minutes of senior football, Huijsen’s inexperience is likely to be exposed if made a first-team starter. His relatively slim physique may make it challenging to compete against physically dominant Premier League strikers. Additionally, his 56 per cent aerial win rate could be improved.
Huijsen has occasionally struggled with maintaining concentration, leading to lapses such as losing track of the ball. These moments highlight the importance of careful management by Iraola to gradually integrate him into Premier League matches where the pressure is higher.
Under Iraola, Bournemouth set up in a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on a structured build-up and an aggressive high press. In Iraola’s low build-up phase, Huijsen’s ability to play long balls and progress the ball through the middle third will be useful. His comfort in possession and passing range suits Bournemouth’s framework of finding No 8s in pockets and pushing full-backs high to create numerical advantages. Huijsen can also contribute to Bournemouth’s attacking play by delivering long balls to forward Dominic Solanke, who is excellent at holding up play.
Huijsen is a promising signing and while his physicality and experience are areas of concern, Iraola can help him adapt to the Premier League.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 57/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
The Spain Under-21 international made significant strides during the 2023-24 season. He made his senior debut for Juventus in October 2023, coming off the bench in a 1-0 victory over AC Milan. In January, he was loaned to Roma, where he continued his development.
During his time at Roma, he played 13 matches and scored two goals. His first Serie A goal came in February in a dominant 4-0 win against Cagliari. Just weeks later, he scored the opener in an away match against Frosinone. Huijsen was praised for his ball playing, which caught the attention of clubs across Europe.
Overall, Huijsen’s 2023-24 season marked his transition from youth football to senior level. His experience with Roma, achieving European football and playing alongside senior defenders such as Chris Smalling and Gianluca Mancini, has set a good foundation for his future career.
Gillian Kasirye
Gaming rating: 69/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
While Huijsen might not yet be ready to start consistently in the Premier League, he has the potential to be one of Europe’s best central defenders, according to Football Manager.
Huijsen has a current ability rating of 120, significantly lower than Bournemouth’s starting options at centre-back. For context, Ilia Zabarnyi has a rating of 133, which is marginally bettered by one-time Argentina international Marcos Senesi (135).
However, Huijsen has a potential ability range of 140 to 170 — suggesting Sports Interactive’s extensive scouting network has high hopes for the young Amsterdam-born defender. If he fails to surpass the floor of his potential, Huijsen would grow into a player on a similar level to Everton’s James Tarkowski (140), but if he were to achieve his potential ceiling, Huijsen could develop into a player of William Saliba’s (164) calibre.
Elias Burke
Financial value rating: 63/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 16/25
The fee of €15million (£12.6m; $16.2m) for a 19-year-old centre-back with experience in Serie A feels about right. Elsewhere in the Premier League, Riccardo Calafiori has joined Arsenal from Bologna for £42m, while Leny Yoro, 18, has joined Manchester United for a deal that could reach €70m. Both are more experienced or rated more highly than Huijsen, but it shows the market for young defenders brought in from Europe.
Squad cost — 13/25
Huijsen is Bournemouth’s sixth signing this window (after Luis Sinisterra, Enes Unal, Alex Paulsen, Daniel Jebbison and Koby Mottoh) and when the fees to make the moves for Sinisterra and Unal are factored in, Iraola has spent in the region of £45m-£50m this year, a substantial amount for Bournemouth.
Contract sensibility — 17/25
A six-year deal for Huijsen, who was praised by Jose Mourinho while on loan at Roma last season, is a sensible move by Bournemouth to retain his value and give him the time to progress under Iraola.
Resale value — 17/25
His contract will take him into his mid-20s, leaving his prime years ahead of him. This should mean Bournemouth can take a profit on Huijsen should they wish to sell, presuming he develops as hoped over that time.
Alex Brodie
Risk or reward? 67/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
There is undoubtedly a considerable amount of risk involved in this transfer, but if Huijsen achieves his lofty potential, it could be one of the signings of the summer.
Huijsen, who developed in Malaga’s academy before joining Juventus in 2021, has made limited appearances in the top flight. He impressed considerably on loan for Roma in the second half of last campaign and can develop into a standout player in his position. Still, he lost his place in Daniele De Rossi’s side in the season’s final weeks and does not have the top-flight experience to ensure this is a safe bet for Bournemouth.
With the departure of Lloyd Kelly, Iraola needed more depth in central defence and Huijsen is the perfect candidate for that role. He demonstrated the capability to contribute when necessary on loan at Roma, but Senesi and Zabarnyi offer the comfort that he will not be relied upon every week, providing they stay injury-free. For Bournemouth, this is a potentially transformative signing. For Huijsen, it’s the ideal club to fulfil his potential.
Elias Burke
Overall rating: 327/500
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
