Fiorentina have officially unveiled Álex Jiménez after the Spanish defender completed a loan move from Bournemouth with an option to buy. The 21-year-old, who faced the media in Florence on Wednesday, described negotiations as “quick” and said he immediately accepted the opportunity to return to Serie A.
“It was all very quick. I immediately accepted because I liked the opportunities ahead. I’m very happy to be here,” Jiménez told reporters via TMW.
From Madrid to Florence via Milan and England
The right-back arrives in Tuscany with substantial experience despite his youth. A product of the Real Madrid academy, Jiménez has already played senior football in three different countries. He previously represented AC Milan, where he made 26 Serie A appearances and won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2024-25, before crossing to England to join Bournemouth last season.
During his time on the south coast, Jiménez worked under Andoni Iraola and scored once in the Premier League. However, the defender insists his focus now lies entirely with Fiorentina head coach Fabio Grosso. “Iraola is a coach who helped me so much, but he’s in the past,” Jiménez stated. “Now I want to focus on the present and what Grosso asks of me.”
Physicality and positional preference
Jiménez believes his spell in English football will serve him well as he returns to Italy. “The Premier League is surely more physical, and having played there will help me here,” he explained.
Although comfortable filling various roles across the back line, Jiménez expressed a clear preference for operating at right-back. “I’m at the team’s disposal, but the right-back role is my favourite,” he confirmed. He added that after only one week with the squad, he is still learning what Grosso expects from him tactically.
Across 34 senior appearances for Milan, Jiménez never found the net in Serie A, though he did manage one goal for Bournemouth. Fiorentina will hope the versatile youngster can add defensive depth and tactical flexibility as they compete on multiple fronts this season.