Bournemouth have completed the permanent signing of Alex Jimenez from AC Milan, converting last summer's loan deal into a long-term contract that keeps the right-back at the Vitality Stadium until 2031. The move was confirmed on 12 February 2026 for a fixed fee reported at £16.5m (€19m), with further bonuses potentially taking the package above €22m. Under the terms of a sell-on clause dating back to when Milan signed Jimenez from Real Madrid in 2024, the fee is split roughly equally between the two clubs.
Jimenez originally arrived at Bournemouth on loan at the start of the 2025-26 season, with the deal structured so the move would become permanent once he hit an appearance threshold, starting or featuring for at least 45 minutes in half of Bournemouth's matches. He comfortably met that mark, and the club moved to tie him down on a long-term deal rather than let a promising loan spell end without a permanent commitment.
The appeal for Bournemouth is straightforward. Andoni Iraola's side have built their recent Premier League progress on quick, front-footed full-backs who can defend one-on-one and support attacks at pace, and Jimenez fits that profile. He came through Real Madrid's academy after starting out as a forward and later a winger before settling at full-back, which shows in his comfort on the ball and his willingness to get forward. Bournemouth's president of football operations, Tiago Pinto, said Jimenez "is a young talent who has already demonstrated his energy and commitment to the squad during these opening months with the club," adding that he has "incredible pedigree, having begun his development at both Real Madrid and AC Milan."
For Milan, this is a player they only signed permanently from Real Madrid in March 2024, having taken him on loan the previous season. That deal was worth around €5m, with Real Madrid keeping a buy-back option, the same mechanism that now hands Los Blancos roughly half of Bournemouth's fee. Selling Jimenez on again inside two years, for close to four times what they paid, is a reasonable piece of business financially, but it also means Milan lose a versatile young defender they had viewed as part of their long-term full-back plans, at a time when the club has been searching for consistency in that position.
Jimenez has had a strong first season in England. He has made around 23 appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth this term, ranking second at the club for tackles won behind Adrien Truffert, and he scored his first goal for the club against Liverpool. He was also named Bournemouth's Player of the Month for December and picked up the man-of-the-match award in a 1-1 draw with Brighton, evidence he has settled into the Premier League quickly for a player still only 20.
At Bournemouth, Jimenez looks set to continue as first-choice right-back, giving Iraola both defensive solidity and an attacking outlet down the flank. His background as a converted winger means he can also provide cover further forward if needed, adding flexibility to a Bournemouth side that likes to press high and commit numbers forward. With the move now permanent and a contract running to 2031, the club have secured a player they clearly see as part of their long-term core rather than a short-term loan fix.