Dean Huijsen and his unbelievable performance at just 19 years old

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Osasuna in the opening match of the 2025/26 La Liga season, but the most talked-about name after the game wasn’t one of the attacking stars—it was Dean Huijsen.

On his La Liga debut, Huijsen not only excelled defensively but also made a strong impression with his passing ability. According to Sofascore, the Dutch newcomer attempted 17 long balls, completing 16 of them, resulting in an impressive 97% success rate.

This is the highest tally in the opening round across La Liga, the Premier League, and Ligue 1 this season. The feat is even more astonishing considering he’s just 19 and was making his first appearance for Real Madrid.

Huijsen’s outstanding display earned him a rating of 8.5, the highest in the match—surpassing even Mbappe, who scored the only goal. His composure on the ball, sharp reading of the game, and pinpoint long passes helped Real Madrid control the tempo and initiate numerous attacks from the back line.

Many pundits have compared Huijsen to the legendary Toni Kroos, the former “brain” of Real Madrid, due to his accuracy with long passes. However, the key difference is their roles: Kroos orchestrated play from midfield, while Huijsen is fulfilling that function from the heart of defense, making him a “strategic link” in Xabi Alonso’s system.

After joining Real Madrid from Bournemouth in the summer 2025 transfer window, Huijsen quickly demonstrated a maturity beyond his 19 years. AS described this as “a golden signing” for Real Madrid, as the young center-back possesses all the qualities to become a mainstay for the club in the years ahead.

If he maintains the same impressive form shown against Osasuna, Dean Huijsen is poised to soon join the ranks of Europe’s top center-backs and usher in a new era for Real Madrid’s defense following the golden years of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.