Madrid secure 'the other Huijsen' with long-term deal for wonderkid Lemaitre
Real Madrid have tied down 16-year-old defensive prodigy Leo Lemaitre until 2028, fending off interest in the French-Spanish dual national who's drawing comparisons to Dean Huijsen.
Real Madrid have moved swiftly to secure one of their most promising academy talents, with 16-year-old centre-back Leo Lemaitre penning a contract until 2028 amid growing interest from clubs across Europe.
The new Huijsen?
Standing at an imposing 1.92m tall despite still being in his first year at Juvenil level, Lemaitre has drawn inevitable comparisons with another towering defensive prospect who came through La Fábrica - Dean Huijsen.
The youngster currently plays for Real Madrid’s Juvenil B team under coach Marcos Jiménez, though he’s already making appearances for the Juvenil A side and has even trained with Raúl’s Castilla squad on occasion.
Last summer, Lemaitre showcased his talents at the Youth Club World Cup, where he was one of the standout performers. His rapid progression continued with a Youth League debut against Manchester City in the group stage finale.
Part of a golden generation
Lemaitre is considered one of the crown jewels of Madrid’s exceptional 2009-born talent pool - a group that’s generating serious buzz around Valdebebas. This golden generation includes several other highly-rated prospects:
- Company
- Enzo Alves (son of Marcelo)
- Bugarían
- Yeremaiah
- Del Pino
- Mateo Pozo
- Mateo Garrido
- Raúl Andrei
- Guille Ponce
International tug-of-war
The centre-back’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed at international level either, sparking a proper barney between Spain and France for his allegiance.
Born in Zaragoza to a French father, Lemaitre initially represented Spain at youth level, making six appearances for the U15s and two more for the U16s. However, after being left out of recent Spain U17 squads, France pounced on the opportunity.
In September, the French Football Federation announced they’d convinced Lemaitre to switch his international allegiance, immediately calling him up to their U17 squad - what the Spanish press have described as a “robbery” of one of Madrid’s brightest talents.
With this new contract, Real Madrid have ensured they won’t lose their defensive pearl anytime soon, as they continue their tradition of securing the best young talent for the future.