Dean Huijsen Earns First Senior Call-Up To Spain For Nations League Quarter-Finals Against Netherlands

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Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen has been selected by Spain for the first time to play in their Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands. The 19-year-old centre-back steps in for Barcelona's Inigo Martinez, who is out due to a knee injury sustained during a match against Atletico Madrid. Huijsen has been a standout player for Bournemouth this season under Andoni Iraola.

Huijsen previously played for the Netherlands at youth level but switched allegiance to Spain's Under-21 team in March 2024, making six appearances since. His performances have significantly contributed to Bournemouth's current 10th place in the Premier League, with European football within reach. In his 23 league matches, only Antoine Semenyo and Illia Zabarnyi have won more aerial duels than Huijsen.

Inigo Martinez's absence from the Spanish national team is due to a right knee issue, as confirmed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Consequently, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has called up Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. "Dean Huijsen sustituye a Iigo Martnez en la convocatoria de la @SEFutbol," reads an official tweet from the Spanish Football Federation.

Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado will also miss out due to a knee ligament injury sustained against Atletico Madrid, which could keep him out for two months. Aleix Garcia from Bayer Leverkusen will replace Casado in the squad. Additionally, Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has earned his first call-up following impressive performances for his club.

Spain, last year's European Championship winners, are set to face the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Thursday for the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final. The return leg will take place at Mestalla Stadium on March 23. These matches are crucial as Spain aims to continue their successful run in international competitions.

Huijsen has completed 884 passes this season, ranking just behind Lewis Cook and Illia Zabarnyi at Bournemouth. His defensive contributions have helped secure five clean sheets for the team. With these statistics, Huijsen has proven himself a valuable asset both domestically and now internationally with Spain.

The inclusion of new talents like Huijsen and Asencio highlights Spain's strategy of integrating young players into their national setup. This approach aims to maintain their competitive edge on the international stage while building a strong foundation for future tournaments.