Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 36.
Player analysis: Dean Huijsen (AFC Bournemouth)
It is hard to believe Bournemouth centre-back Huijsen is just 20 years of age when you see how intelligent, physically imposing and incredibly comfortable on the ball he is.
Huijsen has enjoyed an extraordinarily impressive debut Premier League campaign and although right-footed, he is happy to be used on the left side of a central defensive pairing.
The newly-capped Spain international has been one of the division’s standout players in his position, making just one error that has led to a goal.
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In a hugely important clash at home to Aston Villa this weekend, Andoni Iraola will place his full trust in Huijsen to contain the visitors’ many goalscoring threats.
Assertive defender
It is unusual to see a centre-back as young as Huijsen performing with such assertiveness.
He has proven to be an aggressive and stubborn man marker in 2024/25, and a player very happy to get tight to opposition forwards.
The former Juventus player enjoys the physical side of defending, following strikers into midfield as he snaps away at their heels.
That style of defending is important to Iraola, who requires his entire team to squeeze up and engage in hostile pressing all over the pitch.
It is easy to see why Iraola agreed to pay a reported £12.8million for Huijsen last summer.
Huijsen’s defensive numbers are outstanding.
How Huijsen ranks defensively 24/25
| Huijsen | PL rank* | |
| Interceptions | 1.98 | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Clearances | 6.90 | 2nd |
| Headed clearances | 3.63 | 4th |
*Minimum 20 starts
He has stepped forward to make the second highest number of interceptions per 90 minutes among centre-backs who have made at least 20 starts, just behind Southampton’s Jan Bednarek.
Huijsen also ranks second and fourth respectively for clearances and headed clearances.
The 6ft 6in defender loves to take charge of situations whenever his side is put under pressure, consistently putting himself in the right position to defend Bournemouth’s penalty area
Confident on the ball
Another reason why Huijsen is reportedly attracting interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs is his quality in possession.
Iraola wants Bournemouth to play out from the back and Huijsen’s confidence on the ball helps them do this in an efficient manner.
Huijsen’s distribution - making 115 successful long passes - allows the Cherries to go from defence to attack with just a single ball.
As shown below, he rarely feeds long-range passes into the centre forward down the middle, instead choosing to clip balls down the left channel, or attempt switches of play.
His ability to change the point of attack with precision passes over distance marks him out as one of the best technical central defenders around.
Bournemouth’s style is set up to attack at speed, especially on transitions. Huijsen fits in perfectly with that approach.
He is never afraid to try his luck with a pass between the lines that instigates those incisive forays forward.
In fact, only two Premier League central defenders produce more progressive passes per 90 minutes, where he is level stats-wise with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.
Most progressive passes made by central defenders 24/25
| Mins played* | Progressive passes | Passes per 90 mins | |
| Jan Paul van Hecke | 2,689 | 176 | 5.9 |
| Joachim Andersen | 2,393 | 111 | 4.2 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 3,150 | 141 | 4.0 |
| Dean Huijsen | 2,230 | 98 | 4.0 |
| Pau Torres | 1,820 | 70 | 3.5 |
*Over 1,500 minutes
It would be easy for players of his age to take the easy option on the ball, but there is no fear in the Spaniard’s game.
Instead, Huijsen’s passing is courageous.
Villa know they probably must go to Vitality Stadium and win this match to retain any realistic hope of a top-five finish, so we should see an attacking approach from Unai Emery.
While this will test the Bournemouth defence, it could also lead to Villa holding a high line.
Huijsen’s pinpoint passing has the potential to undo them when he finds a runner in beyond the last man, if Villa they get their distances wrong.
Where Huijsen ranks among PL defenders for passing 24/25
| Huijsen | PL rank | |
| Successful long passes | 4.64 | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Passes completed between lines | 1.85 | 5th |
Scoring headers
Last time out in a 2-1 win at Arsenal, Huijsen showed his ability at both ends. He scored his third headed goal of the campaign, out-jumping the home defence to expertly direct a long throw into the far corner.
Making a habit of scoring against the biggest clubs, that goal added to the ones he also produced against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
His far post header in the match with Spurs, after making a clever looping run to the far post came in his first Premier League start at home in December.
Huijsen's goal v Spurs
Later that month, Huijsen climbed highest from a wide free-kick to plant a header over Andre Onana at Old Trafford.
It was a goal which set Bournemouth on their way to a famous 3-0 success at Man Utd.
Huijsen's goal v Man Utd
Huijsen has only made 24 starts so far, not becoming Iraola’s first choice centre-back until before Christmas.
This means his three Premier League goals make him the most prolific defender when it comes to scoring headed goals per 90 minutes, averaging 0.12.
Central defenders headed goals per 90 mins 24/25
| Total | |
| Dean Huijsen | 0.12 |
|---|---|
| Gabriel | 0.11 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 0.09 |
| Ethan Pinnock | 0.09 |
| Fabian Schar | 0.07 |
Thriving under Iraola
Working under a head coach as well organised and demanding as Iraola will have accelerated Huijsen’s development this season.
Iraola's tactical clarity and style of play very much feels like the right environment for the defender.
Huijsen’s partnership with another young player, 22-year-old Illia Zabarnyi, in the heart of Bournemouth’s defence will have also delighted Iraola.
Not too many coaches would be brave enough to pair two defenders under the age of 23 at Premier League level, but they have thrived as a powerful, commanding duo.
Well-protected by one of the hardest working central midfield units in the division, Bournemouth have not been overly exposed and their consistency has been impressive.
Huijsen has enjoyed an excellent first season in the Premier League.
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