Bournemouth have confirmed that defender Álex Jiménez has been dropped from their squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Fulham, following the launch of an internal investigation into social media posts.
The decision comes after alleged online interactions between Jiménez and an individual who reportedly claimed to be a 15-year-old girl. The club initiated the probe upon becoming aware of the exchanges.
Jiménez, who turned 21 on Friday, has made 32 appearances for Bournemouth this season and started the last five top-flight matches. He joined the club permanently from AC Milan in February for a fee of £17 million, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract after an initial loan spell. The Spanish right-back spent a decade at Real Madrid before moving to Italy in 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, Bournemouth said: “AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back Álex Jiménez. The club understands the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated. As a result, Álex will not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Fulham, and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Head coach Andoni Iraola addressed the situation during his pre-match press conference, saying: “The club has to do their investigations and see what has really happened. We will then move from there. I hope it’s not what we think.”
Representatives for Jiménez have been contacted for comment.
