Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen has admitted he has a release clause in his contract amid interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Last month, it was reported that Real Madrid were set to step up their pursuit of Huijsen after identifying the Bournemouth defender as a possible transfer target.
The centre-back subsequently fuelled the speculation when he admitted it was an “honour” to be linked with a club of Real Madrid’s stature.
Liverpool have also been mentioned as a potential suitor, while Chelsea are another club who are said to be in the race for Huijsen’s signature.
It has previously been reported that Huijsen has a £50m release clause in his Bournemouth deal, which is set to run until the summer of 2028.
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Huijsen confirms release clause
The player himself has now confirmed he has an “exit clause”, although he did not reveal the exact amount required to release him from his Bournemouth contract.
“I have a contract until 2030 and I have an exit clause,” Huijsen told Spanish outlet El Chiringuito. “How much is my exit clause? The truth is, I don’t really understand it myself.”
The Bournemouth defender was also asked directly about the speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid this summer.
“Madrid is a big team, and every player wants to play as much as possible,” Huijsen said. “Do I want to play for Real Madrid? I don’t know.
“We’ll see. A friend called me and said, ‘Go to Real Madrid’. I laughed. ‘What am I supposed to say?’. Another friend is also pushing Barcelona.”
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Why is Huijsen attracting signicant interest?
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has previously admitted he is “not surprised” Huijsen is attracting transfer interest despite only joining the club from Juventus last summer.
The 19-year-old had to wait until December to finally establish himself as a first-choice option in Iraola’s starting lineup.
The defender has since made 18 consecutive Premier League starts, with his performances earning him a call-up to Luis de la Fuente‘s Spain squad for last month’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Huijsen featured as a substitute in the away fixture, before he started the return leg to help his country reach the final four.
Having demonstrated his talents as a modern-day centre-back for club and country, Huijsen is likely to be offered the chance to join a top European club in the summer window.
