The 6'5" central defender Dean Huijsen (#3) had turned 19 only a month and a bit before this match, but has appeared in 13 of our matches this year (starting 4 of them) for a total of 502 minutes of playing time.

That's rather impressive considering that he has only been with us since 6 January 2024, and half the season was over by then.

He was born in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, but his family moved to Andalusia in the south of Spain when he was 5 years old. In 2024, he became a Spanish citizen which allowed him to be selected for the Spanish national team. In 2024 he played for the Spanish national under 21 team.

I knew the name, but didn't really think very much about him. I just assumed that he was "just another defender" who is sometimes in the senior team. To be honest, I didn't realise that he was that young. I also didn't realise that he seems to have a tactical ability beyond his years. Being able to see the entire pitch, I couldn't help but notice that every attacking sequence seems to have started with Huijsen. He not only kicked the ball into play, but seemingly picked out which way the attack would run, and was then the guy who follows up ready to receive the ball if the guys further up the pitch get blocked.

Unfortunately, we're not keeping him. He is only on loan from Juventus until the end of the 2024 season. (Which is why I was a little bit surprised to see him in Australia.) In June 2023, his estimated market value was a mere €250,000. By December it had risen to €2.5 million. By March, after a couple of months playing in the senior side for us, it had risen to €10 million.

And we do not have €10 million to spare.

I suppose it's remotely possible that Juventus will give him back to us for a year if they have more established players on their back line, but I doubt it.

I think he'll be one to watch in the future, but unfortunately that future won't be with us.