A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to produce a hot spot on a proximate magnetic disk. The heat sink is configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink. The diffusion barrier includes a metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.