AFC Bournemouth have suspended right-back Alex Jimenez from their Premier League squad after social media posts allegedly showing the defender exchanging messages with a minor began circulating online on Friday night.
Screenshots purportedly show the 21-year-old acknowledging that the girl reported to be 15 years old is underage, before expressing a desire to meet up with her. Jimenez has so far made no public comment on the matter.
The club acted swiftly, confirming in an official statement that Jimenez would not feature in Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The statement read: “AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back, Alex Jimenez. The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated.”
Jimenez, a Spanish defender who joined permanently from AC Milan in February on a deal running until 2031, has made 32 appearances for Bournemouth this season and scored once, in a 3-2 home win against Liverpool. The suspension comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the south coast club.
Bournemouth currently sit sixth in the Premier League table with three matches remaining, keeping alive their hopes of securing Champions League football for the first time in the club’s history. The Cherries have gone unbeaten across their last 15 league fixtures, a run that included a notable win over table-toppers Arsenal.
Bournemouth’s internal investigation will determine the next steps regarding Jimenez’s future at the club.
