Reports about Newcastle United and Aston Villa submitting £35m bids for an ex-Premier League defender at Real Madrid lack real backing.
News outlets haven’t verified these claims. It seems more like a mix-up of different transfer stories doing the rounds. Newcastle, the focus keyword here, does have some defensive interests, but not quite fitting that exact description.
The transfer window always stirs up chatter. And sometimes, separate threads get woven together into one big, unconfirmed story. That looks to be what happened here. Let’s break down the actual details.
Untangling the Real Madrid Defender Link
Newcastle has shown some interest in a Real Madrid defender. His name is Dean Huijsen, a 20-year-old. He did play for Bournemouth in the Premier League before his move to Real Madrid in summer 2025. But sources only talk about Newcastle’s interest.
There’s no mention of Aston Villa joining any bid. And no specific £35m offer exists for Huijsen either, not that we’ve seen anyway. It’s just interest, which is common in football.
The idea of an ‘ex-Premier League defender’ at Real Madrid fits Huijsen. But the rest of the details don’t match up. So, the direct claim of joint £35m offers for him just isn’t there in trusted reports.
It’s important to separate what’s confirmed and what’s just speculation during busy transfer periods.
The Harvey Elliott £35m Context
The £35m figure itself appears in other transfer news. But it’s about Harvey Elliott, the Liverpool midfielder. He’s on loan at Aston Villa. His deal includes a conditional £35m purchase obligation.
Villa would have to pay that if he reaches 10 appearances. He’s currently at 7 appearances, so he needs three more to trigger it.
Elliott isn’t a defender. He’s a midfielder or forward. He played a full 90 minutes against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League. He also came on as a substitute against Brentford recently. So, the money is tied to him, not a Real Madrid defender.
OneFootball reports his situation changed a bit. Villa coach Unai Emery stated that in October 2025, Villa decided against purchasing him permanently. But injuries to key players like Kamora, McGinn, and Tielemans meant Elliott was recalled to the squad.
And BBC Sport said in February 2026, he’s expected to stay at Villa for the rest of the season. It’s all a bit up and down for him.
January Window Realities
This January transfer window, ending soon, saw teams sorting out their squads. Villa has had its injury problems. That meant players like Elliott, who Emery once passed over, became options again. Newcastle also looks for defensive reinforcements.
They’ve linked with Real Madrid defenders before. But this specific £35m rumor for an ex-Premier League player just seems to be a misinterpretation of different, real stories.
Crystal Palace, for example, did make a bid for Club Brugge’s Ordonez, a defender. But that was €40m, not £35m. And not for a Real Madrid player.
So, while money changes hands and defenders move, this particular headline doesn’t hold up. Teams are always on the hunt. But sometimes, what you read isn’t the full picture.
No official statements from Newcastle, Aston Villa, or Real Madrid have confirmed any £35m offers for a defender. It seems fans will have to wait for genuine news. For now, the story of big bids for an ex-Premier League Real Madrid defender remains just that: a story without much foundation.
Ishaan Singh 
Priyanjan Paul 
Govind Singh