Dean Huijsen takes Real Madrid number 4 as he looks to bounce back from World Cup disappointment and prove himself amid increased competition.
Dean Huijsen Takes Real Madrid Number 4 as He Looks to Bounce Back After World Cup Blow
Dean Huijsen is preparing for a decisive second season at Real Madrid after a difficult end to his first campaign in the Spanish capital. The 21-year-old defender joined the club from Bournemouth last year in a €60 million transfer and quickly became an important part of the defensive unit, regularly featuring in the starting line-up during his debut season. His first year, however, was far from straightforward. Real Madrid finished the campaign without winning a trophy, while Huijsen himself struggled physically during the closing stages and was unable to maintain the level he had shown earlier in the season. The disappointment became even greater when Spain coach Luis de la Fuente decided not to include him in the squad for the 2026 World Cup, leaving the defender with a point to prove as he begins a new campaign at club level.
Huijsen has already admitted that his performances towards the end of last season did not reflect his true ability. Physical problems affected his form at precisely the moment when scrutiny was increasing, and although those issues provided some explanation for his decline, they did not completely remove the questions surrounding him. Real Madrid invested heavily to bring him to the Bernabéu and the expectations attached to a €60 million defender are naturally substantial. The coming season therefore represents an opportunity for Huijsen to show that the difficult period was temporary and that he can develop into the long-term defensive figure the club believed they were signing when they brought him from Bournemouth.
Competition Increases With Ibrahima Konaté Arrival
The challenge has become even more demanding because competition in Real Madrid's defence has increased during the summer. Ibrahima Konaté has joined the squad and immediately provides another high-level option at centre-back, meaning Huijsen can no longer assume that the regular role he enjoyed for much of last season will continue automatically. The arrival of another established defender places additional pressure on him to perform consistently in training and matches, but it also provides a clear test of his development. At a club such as Real Madrid, competition for places is unavoidable, and Huijsen will now have to show that he can respond positively rather than allow the arrival of Konaté to reduce his influence.
Despite that increased competition, there appears to be no shortage of confidence in the young defender. One of the clearest signs of that came with his change of shirt number. Huijsen has moved from number 24 to the number 4 shirt, which became available following the departure of David Alaba. It is a number with considerable history at Real Madrid, having previously been associated with legendary defenders such as Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro. For Huijsen, the change is much more than a cosmetic detail. He has openly admitted that wearing number 4 for Real Madrid was a childhood dream, and the emotional significance is strengthened by the fact that Ramos was one of his major footballing idols growing up.
Number 4 Carries Personal Meaning for Huijsen
"It has always been my dream to play for Real Madrid and wear the number 4 shirt," Huijsen wrote on Instagram after the change was confirmed. The decision is especially meaningful because of his long-standing admiration for Ramos. During his younger years, Huijsen followed the former Real Madrid captain closely and even wore boots from the SR4 range connected to the Spanish defender. Now, years later, he has inherited the same number at the club where Ramos became one of the most recognisable defenders of his generation. That connection adds another layer of expectation to a season in which Huijsen is already under pressure to respond after missing the World Cup.
The defender appears fully aware of the history attached to the shirt and has made clear that he does not take the opportunity lightly. "I know this number has a history full of legends and I hope I can write my own story. Hopefully, one day people will feel that I was worthy of wearing this shirt and this number," he said. Those words reveal both ambition and an understanding of the standards expected at Real Madrid. The number 4 shirt has been worn by players who became central figures in the club's history, and Huijsen knows that simply receiving the number is not enough. He will have to earn his own place in that tradition through performances over time.
Ramos Gives His Approval as Huijsen Begins New Chapter
Huijsen has already received an encouraging message from the player whose number means the most to him. Sergio Ramos responded directly to his Instagram post, writing: "I hope it brings you a lot of joy." For a young defender who grew up admiring Ramos, that public approval carries obvious significance. It does not reduce the pressure Huijsen will face, but it provides a symbolic connection between one of Real Madrid's most iconic defenders and a player now attempting to establish himself as part of the club's future.
The new season will therefore begin with a mixture of responsibility and opportunity. Huijsen must recover fully from the physical problems that affected him at the end of last year, respond to the disappointment of missing the World Cup and compete with Konaté for an important role in the centre of defence. At the same time, the change to number 4 gives him a fresh starting point and a visible reminder of the standards he wants to reach. His first season showed both his potential and the difficulties that come with playing regularly for Real Madrid, and the second campaign may prove even more important in determining how his career develops at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid did not spend €60 million on Huijsen simply for the short term. At 21, he remains a young defender with significant room for improvement, and the club will expect him to grow through the competition and pressure that naturally come with playing at the highest level. Missing the World Cup was a major personal disappointment, particularly after being a regular for much of the season, but it also gives him an obvious source of motivation. Rather than entering the campaign as an established certainty, Huijsen begins it with something to prove, both to Real Madrid and to those who questioned his level during the closing months of last season.
The number on his back will only increase the attention. Wearing number 4 at Real Madrid means following players such as Ramos and Hierro, but Huijsen has made clear that he is not simply trying to imitate those who came before him. His ambition is to create his own story and eventually convince supporters that he was worthy of both the shirt and the responsibility that came with it. With greater competition, renewed motivation and the support of one of his childhood idols, the new season could become the defining stage of his Real Madrid career so far.
