Dean Huijsen: Chelsea MUST beat Arsenal, Liverpool & Real Madrid to £50m transfer - Bournemouth defender is a signing that would finally make sense for rudderless Blues

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.

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 WhoScored'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.

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 The Guardian 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."

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."

Chelsea are in dire need of a successful transfer window as their season unfolds against the backdrop of increasing hostility towards Maresca, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership and sporting directors Lawrence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, with some fans even taking to the streets in protest.

Last summer's bewildering spend can be categorised squarely as a failure, with big-money arrivals Joao Felix and Renato Veiga already with different clubs, Jadon Sancho flattering to deceive, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall barely getting any minutes, and Pedro Neto struggling for consistency, despite being the closest thing to a success story. Meanwhile, the hierarchy once again failed to bring in a proven goal-scorer.

The club needs a win in the upcoming transfer market, and signing the coveted Huijsen - whom they supposedly want to bring in before the Club World Cup in early June - would be the perfect start to what is set to be another busy window and restore some faith in a project that seems to have drifted off track again.

Of course, Chelsea may not have things all their own way when the window creaks open once again; Huijsen's £50m ($66.5m) release clause suddenly looks like a potential steal, and his fine campaign has alerted a host of the Premier League and Europe's big hitters.

In England, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle have been credited with an interest, while Real Madrid - whom he rejected as an academy player - and Bayern Munich are among those supposedly monitoring the situation from overseas.

Huijsen even idolises Los Blancos legend Sergio Ramos, and asked about Madrid's interest recently he said: "I don't know, we'll see. It's a big team. Every player wants to play in the maximum [level] possible."

On paper, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Chelsea would be seriously struggling to compete - especially as they face an unenviably tough run-in in the five-way mud wrestle for Champions League qualification.

But, against the odds, it is Chelsea who are reported to be leading the pursuit at this early stage as Huijsen gives 'serious' consideration to their offer, which is said to include a seven-year deal. According to The Telegraph, he may even be willing to forego Champions League football.

The Blues' long-standing interest in the defender and strong relationship with his agent could work to their advantage, as well as the likelihood of him becoming an immediate starter at Stamford Bridge - something that almost all of their transfer rivals might struggle to offer from the outset. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are supposedly unsure about about adding another defender and might prefer to use their money elsewhere, and it has been claimed that the Spain international is keen to continue in the Premier League.

Somehow, then, Chelsea find themselves well-placed to make an early statement in the transfer window, and its an opportunity that - at £50m - they can't really afford to pass up as they face something of a backline rebuild. Not only would be solve an immediate problem, but Huijsen could become the Blues' defensive leader for years to come.