Dean Huijsen has emerged as one of the most physically imposing young defenders in European football. Born in Amsterdam and now representing Spain, the Real Madrid centre-back combines rare height with technical comfort on the ball, drawing attention from scouts and fans alike. His rapid rise from the Juventus academy to the Bernabéu has made him a player to watch in the 2026/27 season.
At 21 years old, Huijsen already carries a market value of around €60 million, according to Transfermarkt. His profile is defined by a mix of Dutch roots and Spanish allegiance, a background that has sparked curiosity about his personal life, his physical stats, and his trajectory at club and international level.
How tall and how old is Dean Huijsen?
Dean Huijsen measures between 1.95 m and 1.97 m, depending on the source. The official Real Madrid website lists him at 1.96 m and 86 kg, while La Liga records his height as 195 cm. EA SPORTS FC 26, the latest edition of the football video game, gives him 197 cm (6 ft 5.5 in) and 87 kg. The variation is minor and typical across different measuring conventions.
He was born on 14 April 2005, which makes him 21 years old as of the 2026/27 season. Some databases display his age as 20 or 21 depending on the update cycle, but the birth date is consistently reported by Real Madrid, La Liga, and Wikipedia.
Profile overview
- Full name: Dean Huijsen
- Position: Centre-back
- Current club: Real Madrid (La Liga)
- National team: Spain
Key insights
- Huijsen is one of the tallest defenders in La Liga at 1.97 m (6 ft 5.5 in).
- He has dual eligibility for the Netherlands and Spain but represents Spain at senior level.
- His market value is estimated at €60 million as of the 2026/27 season, according to Transfermarkt.
- Huijsen developed in the Juventus academy before moving to Real Madrid in 2025.
- He is ambidextrous and comfortable using both feet.
- His jersey number at Real Madrid is 24.
- EA SPORTS FC 26 rates him with an overall score of 82.
Snapshot facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dean Huijsen |
| Date of Birth | 14 April 2005 (age 21) |
| Nationality | Spain (also eligible for Netherlands) |
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 5.5 in) |
| Weight | 87 kg |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Current Club | Real Madrid |
| National Team | Spain |
| Preferred Foot | Both |
| Market Value (2026/27) | €60.00 million |
Which national team does Dean Huijsen represent?
Dean Huijsen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, but he represents Spain at senior international level. According to the La Liga player profile and the official Real Madrid website, his nationality is listed as Spanish. Earlier in his youth career, he played for Netherlands youth teams before switching his allegiance to Spain.
The decision to represent Spain over the country of his birth attracted attention, but it reflects his personal and family ties to Spain. He made his senior debut for the Spanish national team in 2025, shortly after joining Real Madrid, and has since been part of the squad for international fixtures.
Huijsen holds both Dutch and Spanish nationality. His youth appearances for the Netherlands did not lock him into that senior team, and he formally committed to Spain before earning his first senior cap. This is a common path for players who develop in one country’s youth system but feel a stronger connection to another.
Youth career and senior transition
Huijsen’s football education took place in Italy, where he progressed through the Juventus academy. He was considered one of the most promising defenders in the club’s youth system, and his performances at under-19 level attracted interest from top European clubs. In 2025, he completed a transfer to Real Madrid, where he has since been integrated into the first-team squad.
His senior debut for Spain came in the same year, marking a swift rise from youth international to full La Roja recognition. The Real Madrid official site confirms his current club and national team status.
Who are Dean Huijsen’s parents and what is his religion?
Information about Dean Huijsen’s family background remains limited in public sources. The clearest documented detail is that his father is Donny Huysen, a retired footballer, according to Transfermarkt. No further details about his mother or siblings have been confirmed in the available records.
A secondary biography on Sunday Report notes that parent details are sparse and that the player’s family life is largely kept private. This is consistent with the general approach of many young footballers who prefer to maintain a boundary between their professional and personal lives.
Religion
Dean Huijsen’s religion is not publicly confirmed. The Sunday Report biography explicitly states that his religious beliefs are not publicly known, and no other reliable source in the available research addresses this topic. In the absence of a verified statement from Huijsen or his representatives, any claim about his faith would be speculative.
Parents and religion are topics where public information is either minimal or absent. Huijsen has not made these aspects of his personal life part of his public profile, and no authoritative source confirms details beyond his father’s name. Respecting this boundary is important when reporting on young athletes.
What is Dean Huijsen’s injury status, jersey number, and FC 26 rating?
Huijsen’s injury record is relatively light for a professional footballer. According to the Sunday Report biography, there are no major injuries reported in his senior career. The most notable recent incident occurred in 2026, when he was injured during a Real Madrid warmup before El Clásico. Reports from AS indicated that he was also dealing with a cold in the days leading up to the match. No evidence suggests that this incident led to a long-term absence.
His jersey number at Real Madrid is 24, as listed by multiple databases including Sofascore, Soccer365, and Sorare. This number has been consistent across the sources that track squad numbers.
EA SPORTS FC 26 rating
In EA SPORTS FC 26, the official player page lists Huijsen as a centre-back for Real Madrid with an overall rating of 82. His in-game height is recorded as 197 cm / 6’6″ and weight as 87 kg / 192 lb. These figures are published on the EA Sports official ratings page, which is the most authoritative source for FC 26 data.
The 82 overall rating places him as a solid top-flight defender in the game, reflecting his real-world potential and physical attributes. His ambidexterity is also noted in multiple scouting databases, which contributes to his versatility in both real and simulated matches.
An 82 overall rating in EA SPORTS FC 26 is typical for a young defender with first-team minutes at a top club. Ratings are updated periodically throughout the season based on real-world performances, so Huijsen’s rating could rise if he maintains a regular starting role at Real Madrid.
What are the key milestones in Dean Huijsen’s career?
- 14 April 2005: Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Youth career (pre-2022): Developed in the Juventus academy system in Italy.
- 2025: Transferred from Juventus to Real Madrid.
- 2025: Made senior debut for the Spain national team.
- 2026/27 season: Established as a first-team centre-back at Real Madrid, with a market value of €60 million.
What is known and what remains unclear about Dean Huijsen?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Height, age, and club affiliations are confirmed across multiple authoritative sources (Real Madrid, La Liga, Wikipedia, Transfermarkt). | His religion is not publicly confirmed; no reliable source addresses it. |
| He represents Spain at senior level and previously played for Netherlands youth teams. | Details about his mother and siblings are not available in public sources. |
| His jersey number at Real Madrid is 24. | His exact height varies slightly across databases (1.95–1.97 m), though the range is consistent. |
| His FC 26 rating is 82, as published by EA Sports. | The precise nature and duration of his warmup injury before El Clásico in 2026 are not fully detailed. |
What does Dean Huijsen’s career path reveal about his potential?
Dean Huijsen is a rising star in European football, known for his physical presence and ball-playing ability. His decision to represent Spain over the Netherlands generated discussion, but it also underlined his commitment to a national team with a strong defensive tradition. The move from Juventus to Real Madrid at a young age signals that top-level clubs see him as a long-term investment.
His height and ambidexterity give him a rare profile for a centre-back. Combined with his technical development in the Juventus academy, he has the tools to become a mainstay in Madrid’s defence. The recent controversy involving Huijsen publicly criticising the RFEF over a suspension, as reported by ESPN, suggests a strong personality that could either fuel his drive or create friction, depending on how it is managed.
For the remainder of the 2026/27 season, his focus will be on maintaining fitness, securing consistent minutes, and continuing his development under the coaching staff at Real Madrid. His international career with Spain is also in its early stages, with opportunities to cement a place in the squad for upcoming tournaments. Fans interested in following his progress can check his official Instagram account for personal updates.
Which sources provide the most reliable information about Dean Huijsen?
The most authoritative sources for Huijsen’s club, position, height, weight, and current team details are the official Real Madrid website, La Liga, and EA Sports game listings. These are primary sources that publish verified data directly from the club and league.
“Dean Huijsen is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Real Madrid…”
— Wikipedia
“Date of birth/Age: 14/04/2005 (21) Citizenship: Spain. Height: 1,97 m. Market value: €60.00m.”
— Transfermarkt
“Huijsen blasts RFEF over one-game suspension.”
— ESPN
Database sites such as Soccerbase, Soccer365, FotMob, Sofascore, and Transfermarkt are useful for cross-checking age, jersey number, and career data, although they vary slightly on height and other measurements. For game-specific ratings, EA Sports’ official FC 26 page is the definitive source.
What is the essential profile of Dean Huijsen?
Dean Huijsen is a 21-year-old Real Madrid centre-back and Spain international, born in Amsterdam and standing at approximately 1.97 m. He developed at Juventus, moved to Madrid in 2025, and has an EA SPORTS FC 26 rating of 82. His father is former footballer Donny Huysen, but his religion and other personal details are not publicly known. His recent injury history is light, with the only notable incident being a warmup issue before El Clásico in 2026. For readers interested in other football biographies, profiles of Sandro Tonali and Peter Shilton offer additional context on players who have navigated unusual career circumstances.
Frequently asked questions about Dean Huijsen
What is Dean Huijsen’s full name?
His full name is Dean Donny Huijsen Wijsmuller, as listed by Transfermarkt and Soccer365.
Where was Dean Huijsen born?
He was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 14 April 2005.
How much does Dean Huijsen weigh?
His weight is typically listed between 86 kg and 87 kg across official sources.
What is Dean Huijsen’s preferred foot?
He is ambidextrous and comfortable using both feet, according to Sofascore and FotMob.
What youth teams did Dean Huijsen play for?
He developed in the Juventus academy and also played for Netherlands youth teams before switching to Spain.
Is Dean Huijsen active on social media?
Yes, he has an official Instagram account at @deanhuijsen, where he posts personal and football-related content.
What is Dean Huijsen’s market value?
Transfermarkt estimates his market value at €60 million as of the 2026/27 season.
Has Dean Huijsen won any major trophies?
The available sources do not confirm major senior trophies at club or international level as of the 2026/27 season.
Oliver Arthur Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for StoryShift.uk, covering UK news, culture, politics and technology. He works under Editor-in-Chief Maarika Tamm and UK Managing Editor Oliver Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.