Alex Grimaldo has gone from a free Bundesliga signing to one of Europe’s best left-backs.
Here’s a full breakdown of Alex Grimaldo’s net worth, his Bayer Leverkusen salary, his contract terms, and how he built his fortune.
Alex Grimaldo’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alejandro “Álex” Grimaldo García |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1995 |
| Age | 30 (turns 31 in September 2026) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Position | Left-back / Left Wing-back |
| Current Club | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Turned Professional | 2011 (Barcelona B debut) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $20 million |
| Annual Salary | Approx. €7.1 million (Bayer Leverkusen) |
| Partner | Ana Fuster García |
| Children | One child |
Early Life and Career
Alex Grimaldo was born on September 20, 1995, in Valencia, Spain. He grew up in a middle-class household and began playing organized football at a young age, joining Valencia’s youth academy in 2006 before being scouted by Barcelona two years later.
At Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Grimaldo developed alongside some of the brightest young talents in Spanish football. He progressed steadily through the youth ranks and earned senior recognition early.
On September 4, 2011, at just 15 years and 349 days old, he made his debut for Barcelona B in a 4-0 win over Cartagena in the Segunda División, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in that competition at the time — a record that stood until Lamine Yamal broke it in 2023.
His progress was interrupted in February 2013 when he suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.
He returned to action the following January and continued featuring for Barcelona B over the next two seasons, helping the side to a third-place finish during his comeback campaign.
Despite his clear talent, a path to Barcelona’s first team never fully opened up, and in January 2016, Grimaldo made the move that would define his career: a transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica, according to transfer records.
Professional Career
Grimaldo joined Benfica from Barcelona’s academy in January 2016 for a fee of around €2.1 million.
Over the next seven and a half seasons, he established himself as one of the best left-backs in Portuguese football, making more than 300 appearances for the Lisbon club and winning multiple Primeira Liga titles along with domestic cup honors.
His contract at Benfica expired in the summer of 2023, and rather than re-sign, Grimaldo opted for a free transfer to Bayer Leverkusen under manager Xabi Alonso.
The move turned out to be one of the bargains of the decade.
In his debut season in Germany, Grimaldo scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists from left-back as Leverkusen completed an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2023-24 — a campaign that earned him a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
On the international stage, Grimaldo had to wait until October 2023, just after his 28th birthday, to earn his first cap for Spain.
He quickly became a regular under coach Luis de la Fuente and was named in Spain’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024, where La Roja went on to win the tournament.
He carried that form into the 2025-26 season, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in September 2025, and was confirmed in Spain’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, wearing the No. 3 shirt.
Girlfriend
Alex Grimaldo is in a long-term relationship with Ana Fuster García, who holds a degree in criminology.
The couple has been together for several years and have one child together.
Grimaldo keeps most other aspects of his family life private, including details about his parents and siblings, who he has largely kept away from media attention.
Alex Grimaldo’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Alex Grimaldo’s has an estimated net worth of around $20 million.
He built this wealth almost entirely through his professional playing contracts at Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen, supplemented by performance bonuses tied to his consistent top-level production over the past decade.
Contract
Grimaldo signed a four-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen on July 1, 2023, after arriving as a free agent from Benfica.
The deal runs until June 30, 2027, and according to Capology’s salary database, he has years remaining on his contract worth €14.34 million in total.
His agreement reportedly carries a base value of close to €7.4 million per year, plus performance-related bonuses worth up to €1.8 million annually, putting the full package in the region of €36 million across its duration.
Salary
Grimaldo’s current base salary at Bayer Leverkusen sits at roughly €7.1 million per year, which works out to around €137,885 per week.
This represents the highest-paid stretch of his career by a wide margin — at Benfica, his salary peaked at around €1.6 million per season, and his market value has climbed steadily since the move, meaning his switch to Germany roughly quadrupled his earnings overnight, even arriving on a free transfer.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Benfica | €1.0 million |
| 2019-20 | Benfica | €1.0 million |
| 2020-21 | Benfica | €1.6 million |
| 2021-22 | Benfica | €1.6 million |
| 2022-23 | Benfica | €1.6 million |
| 2023-24 | Bayer Leverkusen | €7.1 million |
| 2024-25 | Bayer Leverkusen | €7.1 million |
| 2025-26 | Bayer Leverkusen | €7.1 million |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-23 | Benfica | All competitions | 300+ | — | — |
| 2023-24 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 33 | 10 | 13 |
| 2024-25 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 32 | 2 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 23 | 8 | 8 |
FAQs
What is Alex Grimaldo’s net worth?
Alex Grimaldo’s net worth is estimated at around $20 million. Most of his wealth comes from his playing salaries at Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen, plus performance bonuses earned during his title-winning seasons in Germany.
How much does Alex Grimaldo earn at Bayer Leverkusen?
Grimaldo earns approximately €7.1 million per year at Bayer Leverkusen, working out to around €137,885 per week. This is roughly four times what he earned during his final seasons at Benfica.
When does Grimaldo’s Bayer Leverkusen contract expire?
Grimaldo signed a four-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen in July 2023, and his current contract runs until June 30, 2027. He joined the club as a free agent after his Benfica contract expired.
Is Alex Grimaldo married?
Grimaldo is in a long-term relationship with partner Ana Fuster García, and the couple have one child together. He has not publicly confirmed marriage details, keeping his family life largely private.
What trophies has Alex Grimaldo won in his career?
Grimaldo won multiple Primeira Liga titles and domestic cups with Benfica, then claimed an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Bayer Leverkusen in 2023-24, earning a 2024 Ballon d’Or nomination.
