AFC Bournemouth have launched an investigation into right-back Alex Jimenez and excluded him from Saturday’s Premier League squad after social media posts emerged appearing to show the 21-year-old sending inappropriate messages to a 15-year-old girl.
The club confirmed the investigation on Friday in a statement that left no ambiguity about the seriousness with which they were treating the matter. “AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back Álex Jiménez,” the statement read. “The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated. As a result, Alex 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.”
Screenshots circulating on social media appeared to show Jimenez involved in inappropriate conversations with accounts belonging to underage girls, triggering widespread anger online and calls for an urgent investigation. The posts went viral on Friday morning before the club issued their statement.
The timing is particularly damaging given Jimenez’s importance to Bournemouth this season. The Spaniard has made 31 appearances for the club and has played in every Premier League match since November, starting all bar one of those fixtures. He signed permanently from AC Milan in January, having initially joined on loan last summer, making him one of the club’s key acquisitions of the season.
His absence comes at a critical moment in Bournemouth’s campaign. The Cherries sit sixth in the Premier League table with three games to play and remain in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League. Manager Andoni Iraola, who has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season, now faces Saturday’s Fulham fixture without one of his first-choice defenders.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details have been confirmed by the club or by Hampshire and Dorset Police, who were approached for comment.
