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Luis de la Fuente's first Spain squad announcement since the nation claimed its second World Cup crown in July features the return of resurgent Real Madrid center back Dean Huijsen.
Huijsen had seemed a near-certainty for Spain's 2026 World Cup squad when he completed a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 for a staggering £50 million ($66.4 million)—the highest fee ever paid for a center back in the club's history.
However, a bright beginning to his Madrid career quickly unraveled as he struggled to find his footing amid the chaos surrounding Los Blancos in 2025–26, with erratic and error-prone displays becoming a recurring theme. The 21-year-old lost his place in the starting lineup late in the campaign under then-head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, and he was left to watch helplessly as Los Blancos crashed out of the Champions League in a 4–3 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich.
The real blow came just over a month later when De la Fuente omitted him from Spain's World Cup squad, opting for the likes of Eric García and Marc Pubill instead. Huijsen accepted the decision graciously and, after congratulating those who made La Roja's squad, channeled his energy into delivering a far stronger second season with Los Blancos.
The gifted defender has since become a fixture in Real Madrid's starting XI under Jose Mourinho, featuring for the full 90 minutes in all but one of the seven matches Los Blancos have played in 2026–27, building a formidable partnership with summer signing Ibrahima Konaté. The reward? A place among the four new additions to La Roja's autumn squad.
"We can see he's performing really well, and that's why we're backing him," De la Fuente said of Huijsen following his squad announcement. "Dean needs to understand, as do others, that he must keep working the way he is right now, which is excellent—always focused on improving each day. That would be great for him, for us, and for his club.
"He's aware that the competition is fierce. We're coming off a World Cup where the two center backs [Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí] were regarded as the best two in the world. So anyone looking to break into that position needs to be pushing with everything they've got. That's good for everybody."
Spain's Fall 2026 Roster
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Josep Martínez (Inter Milan).
Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Eric García (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Atlético Madrid).
Midfielders: Rodri (Barcelona), Fabian Ruíz (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), Fermín López (Barcelona).
Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Roberto Fernández (Espanyol), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Víctor Muñoz (Liverpool), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace).
Barcelona Duo Compete for One Spot in Spain's Roster
De la Fuente's Spain squad for the opening stage of its UEFA Nations League campaign features just four changes from the side that hoisted the World Cup trophy in North America two months prior.
Among the most notable alterations is the absence of Gavi. The Barcelona midfielder started on the left flank in Spain's World Cup opener against Cabo Verde but managed only five additional minutes throughout the tournament. He then suffered an injury scare, leaving the pitch with a knee problem in Barça's first league game of the season, and has since logged just 36 minutes across the club's last six fixtures.
Stepping in for him is long-time friend and club colleague Fermín López. The dynamic attacking midfielder had been on course to feature in Spain's World Cup squad before breaking his foot with two matches left in the season. López made no secret of how devastating it was to miss the tournament, but he has returned this season with a point to prove, already contributing four goals and two assists.
Huijsen slots into the squad in place of Marcos Llorente, who announced his international retirement following the World Cup. In other changes, Inter's Josep Martínez steps in for the injured Joan García between the posts, while Espanyol forward Roberto Fernández—who has already netted six La Liga goals this season—comes in for Borja Iglesias.
Spain will open their Nations League campaign with a highly anticipated clash against England at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 26. La Roja will then welcome Croatia on Sept. 29, followed by a home fixture against Czechia on Oct. 3, before rounding out the window with an away trip to face Croatia again on Oct. 6.