Madrid's Castilla Gold Rush: How a 20-Year-Old Defender Just Fueled a Bournemouth Payday
12 February 2026
Deal details and impact
Bournemouth has officially activated the option to buy Spanish defender Alex Jimenez from AC Milan, in a high-stakes move that underlines his rapid development under coach Andoni Iraola, while Real Madrid benefits behind the scenes as his parent club.
According to AS, the deal is worth a fixed 20 million euros plus up to 5 million euros in add-ons, triggered after Jimenez reached 18 appearances this season, a milestone that sealed the transfer.
Madrid's smart resale and the Castilla pipeline
AS also highlighted Real Madrid’s clever positioning: they do not regain a formal buy-back option, but they secure a large share of any future resale value, preserving upside even as the player wears another club's colors.
AS reports that Milan will receive the first 5 million euros of the deal (the fee Milan paid to sign him from Madrid in 2024), while the remaining amount will be split 50-50 between Milan and Real Madrid.
Based on AS’s calculations, Madrid’s coffers will gain roughly 13 million euros in total from this operation.
This profit underscores Madrid’s strategy of monetizing Castilla graduates, earning from players who no longer wear the club’s shirt but shine in England’s top flight and beyond, potentially eyeing the Spanish national team under Luis de la Fuente.
Jimenez, 20, signed a long-term contract with Bournemouth through 2031 after a string of impressive displays, including a goal against Liverpool, cementing him as one of England’s rising full-backs.
Madrid will watch with interest as the young defender continues his ascent, while Bournemouth adds a promising pillar to Iraola’s squad.
Punchline 1: If Madrid's bank account had a ex, it would be a Castilla graduate—always growing, rarely wearing the same shirt twice. Punchline 2: They say you should aim for the top; Madrid aims for the top and the next resale, because goals and groves of euros don’t grow on trees—unless they’re Castilla trees.
