DEAN Huijsen has outlined his ambitions after joining Cherries, as he explained why he moved to the club from Juventus.

Huijsen completed a £12.8million switch to Cherries this week, penning a six-year contract with the Dorset club.

The 19-year-old, who gained experience in Serie A on loan at Roma last season, is a Spain under-21 international, having recently changed international allegiance from Netherlands.

Discussing his move to Cherries, the centre-back told afcbTV: “I’m really excited to be here and excited to get started with the guys and get to know them.

“The team in general play really exciting football – really progressive, forward football. As a club, the coach and the directors really gave me a good feeling.

“I spoke to him (Andoni Iraola) earlier and we had a really good talk. I’m really excited and happy.”

Asked for his first impressions of the country, Huijsen added: “I thought England was actually going to be a bit colder, but it is really nice, by the sea and the town is really beautiful.”

Having been born in the Netherlands, Huijsen moved to Spain with his family as a child, eventually joining Malaga’s academy.

He left there to go to Juventus in 2021, and is now hoping to make his mark in England’s top flight.

“I think the Premier League, on the whole, is the best league in the world and the most exciting league,” said Huijsen.

“Most people in the world watch the Premier League and I think we can have a really good season ahead.

“I think we can actually beat the (points) record, with the team we have.

“I think so far we’ve kept all our key players and I’m really excited. Hopefully we can strive to push for something.”

Discussing his own game, Huijsen added: “I feel defensively I’ve improved a lot, from what I was when I arrived there (Juventus) at 16, because Italy is obviously famous in teaching the ins and outs of defending, where to stand and how to run.

“I think I can bring that here and help the team.

“I’m a defender that’s really good on the ball. I score quite a lot for a defender, I always manage to get a few goals in.

“I like to play forward, attacking football. That’s how the team plays, so I’m excited.”

Asked what he hopes to achieve during his time at Cherries, Huijsen said: “I think the club is really going upwards and I hope in the next years we can maybe achieve European football or just progress as a club as a whole.”

Asked if he had a message for supporters, the defender replied: “I can only say one thing, up the Cherries.”