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Article Summary
Alejandro Grimaldo is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team. Born Alejandro Grimaldo García in Valencia on 20 September 1995, he developed at Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy but never made a senior appearance for the first team. He moved to Benfica in 2016, making over 300 appearances and winning four Portuguese league titles. In 2023, he joined Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer, helping the club win the Bundesliga in 2024 and scoring 30 goals with over 40 assists. On 30 June 2026, he signed for Atlético Madrid for a reported fee of over €20 million. Grimaldo made his Spain debut on 16 November 2023 and was part of the squad that won the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Known as one of Europe’s best set-piece specialists, he has scored more free-kicks than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues over the last three seasons. He is in a long-term relationship with Ana Fuster, and they have a daughter, Lucía. His net worth is estimated at approximately €20 million.
Table of Contents
- Early Life and Background
- Club Career
- International Career
- Major Achievements
- Personal Life
- Latest News
- Upcoming Events
- Recent Awards
- Career Timeline
- Career Statistics
- FAQs
- Key Takeaways
- Conclusion
Quick Facts Table
Full Biography
Early Life and Background
Alejandro Grimaldo García was born on 20 September 1995 in La Pobla de Vallbona, Valencia, Spain. Nicknamed ‘El Peque’ (The Little One) due to his stature, he began his football journey in his hometown before joining the youth ranks of Atlético Vallbonense and later Valencia CF.
At the age of 12, Grimaldo received a life-changing opportunity: he was signed by Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. This move required him to leave his family home and spend his adolescence in Barcelona’s youth residence, a period he later described as “difficult” and a “complicated” experience. His parents regularly traveled from Valencia to Barcelona to support him, and Grimaldo has acknowledged that the sacrifice was immense. He once admitted, “If my parents could go back, they would never have let me go to Barcelona.”
At Barcelona, he progressed through the youth ranks, earning a reputation as a technically gifted and attack-minded left-back.
Club Career
Barcelona B (2011-2015)
Grimaldo made his official debut for Barcelona’s B team on 4 September 2011. He went on to make 92 appearances for the reserve side, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists. Despite his impressive performances, he never made a senior appearance for Barcelona’s first team.
Benfica (2016-2023)
In December 2015, Grimaldo was signed by Portuguese giants Benfica for a fee of €2.1 million. Over the next seven and a half seasons, he established himself as one of the best left-backs in Europe.
During his time at Benfica, Grimaldo made 303 appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 66 assists. He won four Portuguese league titles, three Supercups, one Taça de Portugal, and one Taça da Liga.
Bayer Leverkusen (2023-2026)
In the summer of 2023, Grimaldo joined Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer. He signed a four-year contract and immediately became a key player under manager Xabi Alonso.
In the 2023/24 season, Grimaldo was instrumental in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title win — the club’s first-ever league championship — as well as their DFB-Pokal triumph and run to the UEFA Europa League final.
Overall, he made 145 appearances for the German club, scoring 30 goals and providing over 40 assists.
Atlético Madrid (2026-Present)
On 30 June 2026, Atlético Madrid announced the signing of Grimaldo on a four-year contract until June 2030. The transfer fee was reported to be over €20 million.
Speaking about the move, Grimaldo said, “Atletico is one of the biggest clubs in Spain. My goal was to return to Spain in this summer transfer window. My first wish was to go to Atletico, and it’s happened.” He will officially join the club after the 2026 World Cup.
International Career
Grimaldo represented Spain at various youth levels, including U16, U17, U19, and U21. He won the U19 European Championship in 2012.
He made his senior debut for the Spain national team on 16 November 2023 in a 3-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win against Cyprus. He was part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Grimaldo was named in Spain’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. Ahead of the tournament, he called Spain the “favorites.”
In the final against Argentina on 19 July 2026, Grimaldo was named on the bench as Spain secured a 1-0 victory after extra time to claim the World Cup. He became a world champion as part of the squad.
Major Achievements
Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 4 titles
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 3 titles
- Taça de Portugal: 1 title
- Taça da Liga: 1 title
Bayer Leverkusen
Spain National Team
Individual
Personal Life
Grimaldo has been in a long-term relationship with Ana Fuster García, a Valencian criminologist. The couple met during his time at Benfica and have been together for several years. They have a daughter named Lucía.
Grimaldo’s parents, Miguel and his mother, have been a constant source of support throughout his career. His father in particular has been a significant influence.
Latest News
As of July 2026, Alejandro Grimaldo is celebrating Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph. He has also completed his transfer to Atlético Madrid on a contract until 2030. His market value is estimated at €25.9 million.
Upcoming Events
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 La Liga season | Starts August 2026 |
| Atlético Madrid debut | Expected after World Cup duty |
| UEFA Champions League 2026-27 | The group stage begins September 2026 |
Recent Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | Won (with Spain) |
| 2024 | Bundesliga | Won (with Bayer Leverkusen) |
| 2024 | DFB-Pokal | Won (with Bayer Leverkusen) |
| 2024 | UEFA European Championship | Won (with Spain) |
| 2024 | DFL-Supercup | Won (with Bayer Leverkusen) |
Career Timeline
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona B | 2011-2015 | 92 | 6 |
| Benfica | 2016-2023 | 303 | 27 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2023-2026 | 145 | 30 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2026-Present | 0 | 0 |
International Caps: 8+ | International Goals: 0
FAQs
How old is Alejandro Grimaldo?
Alejandro Grimaldo was born on 20 September 1995 in Valencia, Spain, which makes him 30 years old as of 2026.
What is Alejandro Grimaldo’s net worth?
Alejandro Grimaldo’s net worth is estimated at approximately €20 million as of 2026. He earned an estimated €4.8 million net per year at Bayer Leverkusen.
Which club does Alejandro Grimaldo play for?
Alejandro Grimaldo plays as a left back for La Liga club Atlético Madrid. He signed a four-year contract with the club on 30 June 2026.
Has Alejandro Grimaldo won the World Cup?
Yes. Grimaldo was part of Spain’s 2026 World Cup-winning squad.
What trophies has Alejandro Grimaldo won?
Grimaldo has won four Portuguese league titles with Benfica, the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal with Bayer Leverkusen, the Euro 2024 with Spain, and the 2026 World Cup.
Is Alejandro Grimaldo married?
Grimaldo is not married but has been in a long-term relationship with Ana Fuster, a Valencian criminologist. They have a daughter named Lucía.
What is Alejandro Grimaldo’s height?
Alejandro Grimaldo stands at 1.71 meters (5 feet 7 inches).
What position does Alejandro Grimaldo play?
Alejandro Grimaldo plays as a left-back or left wing-back. He is also capable of playing as a wing-back, central midfielder, or attacking midfielder.
What is Alejandro Grimaldo’s contract situation?
Grimaldo signed a four-year contract with Atlético Madrid running until 30 June 2030.
Is Alejandro Grimaldo a free-kick specialist?
Yes. Grimaldo is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best set-piece specialists, having scored more free-kicks than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues over the last three seasons.
Key Takeaways
- Alejandro Grimaldo is a Spanish left-back born on 20 September 1995 in Valencia, Spain.
- He developed at Barcelona’s La Masia academy but never made a senior appearance for the club.
- He made over 300 appearances for Benfica, winning four Primeira Liga titles.
- He joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, winning the Bundesliga and scoring 30 goals.
- He signed for Atlético Madrid in June 2026 for over €20 million.
- He was part of Spain’s 2024 European Championship and 2026 World Cup-winning squads.
- He is known as one of Europe’s best free-kick specialists.
- He is in a long-term relationship with Ana Fuster; they have a daughter, Lucía.
Conclusion
Alejandro Grimaldo’s journey from the youth pitches of La Pobla de Vallbona to the pinnacle of world football is a story of talent, sacrifice, and perseverance. He left his family home at just 12 years old to join Barcelona’s La Masia, an experience he admits was “difficult” but ultimately shaped his career. Though he never made a senior appearance for Barcelona, his move to Benfica proved transformative: over 300 appearances, four league titles, and a reputation as one of Europe’s most attack-minded full-backs. His free transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 saw him win the Bundesliga and establish himself as the most prolific free-kick taker in Europe. In 2026, he achieved his dream of returning to Spain, signing for Atlético Madrid, and added the ultimate honor to his collection: a World Cup winners’ medal. With a long-term contract at Atlético, a loving family, and a legacy as one of the finest left-backs of his generation, Alejandro Grimaldo’s career is far from over.
Read More: Atlético Madrid, Spain national team, left-back, World Cup 2026, Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga winner, free-kick specialist, Benfica, La Masia, Ana Fuster
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