Álex Grimaldo
Grimaldo with Benfica in 2020
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Grimaldo García
Date of birth (1995-09-20) 20 September 1995
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Left wing-back
Team information
Current team
 Bayer Leverkusen
Number 20
Youth career
Atlético Valbonense
2006–2008 Valencia
2008–2012 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2016 Barcelona B 92 (6)
2016–2023 Benfica 197 (19)
2023– Bayer Leverkusen 16 (7)
International career‡
2011 Spain U16 2 (0)
2011–2012 Spain U17 8 (1)
2012–2014 Spain U19 9 (0)
2013–2016 Spain U21 2 (0)
2023– Spain 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:25, 20 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:50, 16 November 2023 (UTC)

Alejandro Grimaldo García (born 20 September 1995), known as Álex Grimaldo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Spain national team. Regarded as one of the best wing-backs in the world, he is known for his passing and goal contributions.

Club career

Barcelona

Grimaldo with Barcelona B in 2012

Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Grimaldo joined Barcelona's youth system in 2008. He made his official debut for the B-team on 4 September 2011, starting in a 4–0 away win against Cartagena at the age of 15 years and 349 days and becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Segunda División game, before he was surpassed by Lamine Yamal in 2023.[2][3]

On 23 February 2013, Grimaldo suffered a serious knee injury, being ruled out for the remainder of the season.[4] He returned to action in January of the following year,[5] appearing in 14 matches to help his team finish in third position.

On 13 September 2014, Grimaldo scored his first professional goal, netting his side's last in a 3–2 success at Alavés.[6] In a campaign which saw the team relegated, he netted four times in 36 matches; he and Sergi Palencia were sent off on 25 April 2015, in a 2–1 win over Ponferradina at the Mini Estadi.[7]

Benfica

On 29 December 2015, as his contract was about to expire,[8] Grimaldo signed with Portuguese champions Benfica until 2021, for €1.5 million. Barcelona has the right to a percentage of a future sale.[9]

Grimaldo played his first game with his new team on 26 January 2016, coming in as a 62nd-minute substitute for Sílvio in a 6–1 away routing of Moreirense for the Taça da Liga.[10] He debuted in the Primeira Liga on 29 February, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 home win against União da Madeira;[11] he only appeared once more in the latter competition until the end of the season, filling in for suspended Eliseu[12] in a 4–1 success over Nacional also at the Estádio da Luz that sealed the club's third consecutive national championship.[13] He remained in the team for the league cup final on 20 May, the 6–2 defeat of Marítimo at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.[14]

Grimaldo with Benfica in 2019

Grimaldo's first full season began on 7 August 2016, as he started in a 3–0 win against Braga for the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in Aveiro, assisting Franco Cervi for the opening goal.[15] On 2 October he scored his first goal for the club, a free kick to conclude a 4–0 home triumph over Feirense;[16] on 28 May 2017, he played the full 90 minutes in the final of the Taça de Portugal, won after defeating Vitória de Guimarães 2–1.[17]

Grimaldo's maiden appearance in the UEFA Champions League took place on 13 September 2016, when he played the entire 1–1 group stage home draw to Beşiktaş.[18] His first goal in the competition came during the same stage but on 2 October 2018, in a 3–2 away win over AEK Athens;[19] he repeated the feat against the latter opponent on 12 December in the return fixture, his 30-meter free kick in the 88th minute helping to a 1–0 victory.[20]

Bayer Leverkusen

On 21 May 2023, Grimaldo signed a four-year contract with German club Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer.[21] On 12 August, he made his debut in a DFB-Pokal match against FC Teutonia Ottensen.[22] On 15 September, he scored his first goal for the club, a direct free kick from the edge of the box away at Bayern Munich in a 2–2 draw.[23]

International career

Grimaldo won his first cap for the Spain under-21 team on 5 February 2013 – before he had turned 18 – playing the second half of a 1–1 friendly draw in Belgium.[24]

On 10 November 2023, Grimaldo received his first call-up to the Spain senior national team, for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Cyprus and Georgia.[25] Six days later, he made his debut as a starter against Cyprus, assisting Mikel Oyarzabal for Spain's second goal in a 3–1 away victory.[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 January 2024[27][28]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B 2011–12 Segunda División 10————10
2012–13 240————240
2013–14 140————140
2014–15 364————364
2015–16 Segunda División B 172————172
Total 926————926
Benfica 2015–16 Primeira Liga 200030000050
2016–17 14220004[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0212
2017–18 28130104[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0371
2018–19 344401015[lower-alpha 5]3—547
2019–20 26060008[lower-alpha 6]01[lower-alpha 4]1411
2020–21 31240007[lower-alpha 7]01[lower-alpha 4]0432
2021–22 295213014[lower-alpha 3]0—486
2022–23 335413014[lower-alpha 3]2—548
Total 197192521106654130327
Bayer Leverkusen 2023–24 Bundesliga 17730—5[lower-alpha 8]2—259
Career total 305312821107174141941
  1. ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal and DFB-Pokal
  2. ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. 1 2 3 4 Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  5. ↑ Ten appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  8. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 16 November 2023[29]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 202310
Total10

Honours

Benfica

Spain

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Grimaldo". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ↑ García, Gregorio (4 September 2011). "Vuelve el mejor Barça B con un festival goleador en Cartagonova" [The best Barça B return with a scoring festival in Cartagonova]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Gascón, Javier (5 September 2011). "Alejandro Grimaldo, la seducción de un lateral de 15 años" [Alejandro Grimaldo, the allure of a 15-year-old fullback]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "Alejandro Grimaldo sufre una rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior y del ligamento lateral externo de la rodilla" [Alejandro Grimaldo suffers an anterior cruciate ligament and a lateral collateral injury] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Grimaldo vuelve ante el Mirandés... y Masip se queda fuera" [Grimaldo returns against Mirandés... and Masip stays out]. Sport (in Spanish). 18 January 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "El Barça B se lleva los tres puntos con susto final" [Barça B take the three points with a final scare]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Una genialidad de Munir da aire a un filial que acabó con nueve" [Genius from Munir gives air to a reserve team which finished with nine]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Nogueira, Carlos (18 December 2015). "Grimaldo ruma à Luz por um milhão de euros" [Grimaldo heads to Luz for one million euros]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  9. ↑ ""Tenho muita ambição em crescer neste clube"" [I have a lot of ambition of growing in this club] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Classe e magia no check-in para as "meias"" [Class and magic in "semis" check-in] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Quem tem um Jonas, tem tudo" [He who has a Jonas, has everything] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Gaitán volta com Talisca e Grimaldo no onze" [Gaitán returns with Talisca and Grimaldo in XI]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 14 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Génio de Gaitán dá o 'tri' ao Benfica" [Gaitán genius gives ‘tri’ to Benfica] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Benfica continua a ser o rei da Taça da Liga" [Benfica are still League Cup kings] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "El Benfica campeón de la Supercopa gracias a Cervi y Pizzi" [Benfica are Supercup champions thanks to Cervi and Pizzi]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 8 August 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "Benfica goleia o Feirense" [Benfica thrash Feirense]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 2 October 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Oito minutos à Benfica garantiram a 11.ª dobradinha" [Eight Benfica-like minutes confirmed 11th double]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Talisca, o dispensado, roubou uma vitória que parecia certa" [Talisca, the surplus, robbed almost certain win]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 September 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  19. ↑ Béu, Mariana (2 October 2018). "Benfica com triunfo sofrido sobre o AEK (3–2). Seferovic e Grimaldo marcaram, gregos empataram e Alfa Semedo resolveu – como aconteceu" [Benfica with hard-fought win over AEK (3–2). Seferovic and Grimaldo scored, Greek drew and Alfa Semedo decided it – how it happened]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  20. ↑ Celso, Marcos (12 December 2018). "Benfica vence AEK de Atenas com grande golo de Grimaldo" [Benfica beat AEK Athens with great Grimaldo goal] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  21. ↑ "Bayer 04 sign Grimaldo from Benfica". BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN. 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  22. ↑ "Leverkusen bezwingt Ottensen klar und deutlich" (in German). sportschau.de. 12 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "FC Bayern München 2–2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen". Bundesliga. 15 September 2023.
  24. ↑ Villalobos, Fran (5 February 2013). "España invierte en su futuro" [Spain invest in their future]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "Grimaldo convocado pela primeira vez para a seleção espanhola" [Grimaldo called-up for the first time for the Spanish national team] (in European Portuguese). A Bola. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Euro-2024 Espanha derrota Chipre com boa estreia de Grimaldo" [Euro 2024 Spain beats Cyprus with good debut by Grimaldo] (in European Portuguese). A Bola. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  27. 1 2 Álex Grimaldo at Soccerway
  28. ↑ Álex Grimaldo at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  29. ↑ "Álex Grimaldo". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  30. ↑ Kundert, Tom (27 May 2023). "Benfica crowned champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Depois do "tri", o "hepta". Benfica goleia e vence Taça da Liga" [After "tri", "hepta". Benfica rout and win League Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Benfica vence V. Guimarães (3–1) e faz a festa em Aveiro" [Benfica defeat V. Guimarães (3–1) and get the party started in Aveiro]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  33. ↑ Benfica 5–0 Sporting Lisbon Soccerway
  34. ↑ "La sub´19, campeona de Europa" [The under-19s, European champions]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 15 July 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Technical report" (PDF). UEFA. p. 13. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  36. ↑ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2018/19 Season". UEFA.com. 30 May 2019.
  37. ↑ "Vencedores dos Prémios Oficiais da Liga Portugal 2018-2019". Liga Portugal. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  38. ↑ "11 do Ano fechado com avançado do SC Braga (fotogaleria) (Liga)". A Bola (in Portuguese). 25 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  39. ↑ "Melhores de fevereiro: Bruno Fernandes e Adriano Castanheira em destaque". Liga Portugal. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  40. ↑ "Grimaldo distinguido com o Prémio de Defesa do Mês da Liga Portugal bwin" [Grimaldo distinguished with Liga Portugal bwin' Defender of the Month Award]. Liga Portugal (in European Portuguese). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  41. ↑ "Grimaldo wins February Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  42. ↑ "Melhores de janeiro: João Félix e Pedro Henrique em destaque". Liga Portugal. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
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