Álex Jiménez hails Bournemouth deal as dream come true

Álex Jiménez Bournemouth transfer has been described by the young defender as a “dream come true” after the Cherries activated the clause to make his move from AC Milan permanent.

The 20-year-old joined last summer on loan with a conditional obligation to buy. After meeting the required appearance threshold, Bournemouth finalised the deal on 12 February, with reports in Italy previously suggesting the clause was worth around €20 million.

Jiménez has now signed a contract running until 2031, underlining the club’s long-term faith in him.

Speaking to AS, the Spain Under-21 international admitted he always believed the move would become permanent.

“Yes, very happy. For me, it’s a dream come true, and from the moment Bournemouth called me, that was my goal, for them to end up buying me,” he said.

“I actually made up my mind when the club called me, because it was with a mandatory purchase option after playing a certain number of matches. What convinced me was playing in the best league in the world.”

Jiménez has logged 1,733 minutes across 24 matches this season under Andoni Iraola, establishing himself as a consistent option at left-back.

Having followed Bournemouth’s defensive rotation this campaign, his adaptation to the Premier League has been steady rather than explosive, but consistent enough to justify the club’s investment.

Jiménez also pointed to Bournemouth’s reputation for developing and exporting talent as a factor in his choice.

“It catches your attention, especially this summer when I saw that Bournemouth wanted me,” he said.

“It’s striking that last year Huijsen went to Real Madrid, Zabarnyi was signed by PSG, Dango by Brentford. That also catches your attention, because, in the end, you look at where you want to go and what you can achieve in the future.”

The pathway is clear. Bournemouth have positioned themselves as a stepping stone for elite progression while maintaining competitive stability in the Premier League.

Real Madrid are also understood to benefit financially from the transaction due to previous clauses in Jiménez’s development pathway.

However, it remains too early to predict how far his trajectory will rise in England. Sustained performance over multiple seasons will define the next stage.

Jiménez will aim to cement his starting position during the run-in as Bournemouth push for a strong league finish. Continued development under Iraola could raise his profile further, particularly if the Cherries maintain upward momentum. Much will depend on consistency and defensive reliability over the coming months.

Has Bournemouth secured another long-term asset in Jiménez?