Stats suggest Real Madrid may have discovered the new Sergio Ramos | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s latest signing, Dean Huijsen, has made an immediate impact since joining the club, showing calmness, confidence, and maturity well beyond his years.

The 20-year-old centre-back has stepped up in a big way at the FIFA Club World Cup, playing a key role in both of the team’s matches so far.

With injuries hitting Real Madrid’s defence hard, Huijsen has taken the opportunity to shine and he has done so in style.

In the space of a few weeks, Huijsen’s footballing life has changed dramatically, and he’s responded with the kind of poise that suggests he is here to stay.

For a player who idiolised former Madrid captain Sergio Ramos growing up, following his footsteps through such performances are certain to bring up comparisions once the 2025/26 season starts

A new defensive leader

Huijsen’s performances have not only been solid defensively, but they have also underlined his ability to control the game from the back.

To put things in perspective, no defender at the Club World Cup has made more passes than Huijsen, 137 in total.

Impressively, 60 of those were progressive passes breaking the lines, showcasing the Spaniard’s role as the launchpad for Real Madrid’s attacks.

Dean Huijsen has made a perfect start to his Ral Madrid career. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Even players like Aurelien Tchouameni, who had to cover at centre-back due to Raul Asencio’s red card, couldn’t match Huijsen’s output.

His 88% pass accuracy, combined with his average of 61.3 passes per game since joining Madrid, exceeds even the numbers posted by legendary midfielders like Sergio Busquets in his prime.

The youngster’s development since his time at Bournemouth is evident. Back then, he averaged around 50 passes per game, but under Xabi Alonso’s structured system at Real Madrid, Huijsen has become a far more prominent figure in possession.

His long strides, accurate distribution, and confidence on the ball have made him not just a reliable defender but also a key contributor to Madrid’s build-up play.

Huijsen now finds himself among the top centre-backs in terms of progressive passing, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund), Alexander Barboza (Botafogo), and Lucas Beraldo (PSG).

With Alonso looking to mould a modern, ball-playing defence, Dean Huijsen is already proving to be the perfect fit for the future of Real Madrid.