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Álex Grimaldo

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Grimaldo and the second or maternal family name is García.

Alejandro "Álex" Grimaldo García (born 20 September 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Spain national team. He is known for his crossing, shooting, set-pieces and chance creation.

Álex Grimaldo
Grimaldo with Benfica in 2020
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Grimaldo García
Date of birth (1995-09-20) 20 September 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Left wing-back, left-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)
2011–2015 Barcelona B 92 (6)
2016–2023 Benfica 197 (19)
2023– Bayer Leverkusen 45 (11)
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 10 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2024 Germany Team
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2012 Estonia Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:38, 30 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:56, 12 October 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Barcelona

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Grimaldo with Barcelona 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

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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 victory 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

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On 21 May 2023, Grimaldo signed a four-year contract with German club Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer.[21] On 12 August, he debuted 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] He finished his first season at Leverkusen in 2023–24 as top assist provider in Bundesliga with 13 assists.[24]

International career

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Grimaldo won his first call-up 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.[25]

On 10 November 2023, Grimaldo received his first call-up to the Spain senior national team, for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Cyprus and Georgia.[26] 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.[27]

In May 2024, he was named in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[28]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 3 December 2024[29][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 2011–12 Segunda División 1 0 — — — — 1 0
2012–13 24 0 — — — — 24 0
2013–14 14 0 — — — — 14 0
2014–15 36 4 — — — — 36 4
2015–16 Segunda División B 17 2 — — — — 17 2
Total 92 6 — — — — 92 6
Benfica 2015–16 Primeira Liga 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2016–17 14 2 2 0 0 0 4[c] 0 1[d] 0 21 2
2017–18 28 1 3 0 1 0 4[c] 0 1[d] 0 37 1
2018–19 34 4 4 0 1 0 15[e] 3 — 54 7
2019–20 26 0 6 0 0 0 8[f] 0 1[d] 1 41 1
2020–21 31 2 4 0 0 0 7[g] 0 1[d] 0 43 2
2021–22 29 5 2 1 3 0 14[c] 0 — 48 6
2022–23 33 5 4 1 3 0 14[c] 2 — 54 8
Total 197 19 25 2 11 0 66 5 4 1 303 27
Bayer Leverkusen 2023–24 Bundesliga 33 10 6 0 — 12[h] 2 — 51 12
2024–25 12 1 3 0 — 5[c] 2 1[i] 0 21 3
Total 45 11 9 0 — 17 4 1 0 72 15
Career total 333 35 34 2 11 0 83 9 5 1 466 47
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal and DFB-Pokal
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ a b c d 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
  9. ^ Appearance in DFL-Supercup

International

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As of match played 18 November 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2023 1 0
2024 9 0
Total 10 0

Honours

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Benfica

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Spain U19

Spain

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Grimaldo". S.L. Benfica. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. 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). Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. 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). Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. 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. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. 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. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. 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. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. 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). Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. 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. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Classe e magia no check-in para as "meias"" [Class and magic in "semis" check-in]. Benfica (in Portuguese). 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 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. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Génio de Gaitán dá o 'tri' ao Benfica" [Gaitán genius gives "tri" to Benfica]. SAPO. pt. 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 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. Archived from the original on 23 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. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Benfica goleia o Feirense" [Benfica thrash Feirense]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. 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. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. 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]. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Bayer 04 sign Grimaldo from Benfica". BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Leverkusen bezwingt Ottensen klar und deutlich" (in German). sportschau.de. 12 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  23. ^ "FC Bayern München 2–2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen". Bundesliga. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Bundesliga Stats 2023-2024". Bundesliga. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  25. ^ Villalobos, Fran (5 February 2013). "España invierte en su futuro" [Spain invest in their future]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  26. ^ "Grimaldo convocado pela primeira vez para a seleção espanhola" [Grimaldo called-up for the first time for the Spanish national team] (in Portuguese). A Bola. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Euro-2024 Espanha derrota Chipre com boa estreia de Grimaldo" [Euro 2024 Spain beats Cyprus with good debut by Grimaldo] (in Portuguese). A Bola. 16 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  28. ^ UEFA.com. "Spain | Squad | UEFA EURO 2024". UEFA.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  29. ^ a b Álex Grimaldo at Soccerway  
  30. ^ Álex Grimaldo at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved 5 January 2017.  
  31. ^ "Álex Grimaldo". EU-Football.info. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  32. ^ Kundert, Tom (27 May 2023). "Benfica crowned champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  33. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  34. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  35. ^ "Benfica 5-0 Sporting CP". Soccerway. 4 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Bayer Leverkusen are 2023/24 Bundesliga champions!". Bundesliga. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Bayer Leverkusen battle back to beat VfB Stuttgart on penalties in Supercup". Bundesliga. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  38. ^ "La sub´19, campeona de Europa" [The under-19s, European champions]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  39. ^ "Spain 2-1 England | UEFA EURO 2024 Final". UEFA.com. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  40. ^ "Technical report" (PDF). UEFA. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  41. ^ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2018/19 Season". UEFA. 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Vencedores dos Prémios Oficiais da Liga Portugal 2018-2019". Liga Portugal. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  43. ^ "11 do Ano fechado com avançado do SC Braga (fotogaleria) (Liga)". A Bola (in Portuguese). 25 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  44. ^ "Melhores de fevereiro: Bruno Fernandes e Adriano Castanheira em destaque". Liga Portugal. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  45. ^ "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 Portuguese). 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Grimaldo wins February Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal. 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  47. ^ "Melhores de janeiro: João Félix e Pedro Henrique em destaque". Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  48. ^ "Bundesliga Team of the Season 2023/24 by EA FC 24!". Bundesliga. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  49. ^ "Florian Wirtz ist VDV-Spieler der Saison" (in German). VDV. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  50. ^ "Bundesliga Player of the Month". Bundesliga. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  51. ^ Cite error: The named reference Athletic 2324 PotS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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