Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has dropped out of the Spain squad for World Cup qualifiers because of a muscular injury and will be replaced by former Man City star Aymeric Laporte.
“Huijsen arrived with symptoms of muscular fatigue at the Spain national team camp on Monday night,” said the Spanish football federation in a statement.
“On Tuesday he did not train… and on Wednesday he had a medical test confirming a muscular injury, which Real Madrid have been informed of.”
The 20-year-old centre-back joined Los Blancos from Premier League club Bournemouth this summer and made his Spain debut in March in the Nations League.
🚨 Dean Huijsen suffers muscle fatigue and can’t be available to play for Spain in the next two games.
Real Madrid staff will assess the centre back with injury seen as not long/serious one — could be a matter of 1/2 weeks waiting for tests. pic.twitter.com/W7CihXeJFf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 8, 2025
Laporte, who recently rejoined Athletic Bilbao, was a key part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and Man City midfielder Rodri Hernandez previously withdrew injured from the squad for the games against Georgia and Bulgaria on Saturday and October 14 respectively.
Spain lead Group E after beating Bulgaria and Turkey in their opening qualifiers for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images
