Bournemouth has officially signed Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche in a deal valued at £25.7m. The announcement coincides with Rodriguez celebrating his 22nd birthday, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Rodriguez joins the Cherries on a five-year contract, enhancing their attacking options alongside fellow striker Evanilson. His arrival aims to provide a more physical presence in Bournemouth's forward line, especially as they gear up for their debut season in Europe, having qualified for the Europa League.

Key details of the transfer include:

• Real Madrid is entitled to 50% of any future transfer fee due to the sale of Rodriguez to Elche last summer.
• The young forward had a productive season in La Liga, netting seven goals and contributing five assists over 34 appearances.

New manager Marco Rose had shown interest in Rodriguez prior to his signing, and Bournemouth had been monitoring him closely. It's important to note that Rodriguez is not intended to replace teenage forward Junior Kroupi, who has been linked with a potential exit. Instead, Bournemouth is looking to offload Turkish striker Enes Unal.

Expressing his excitement, Rodriguez stated, "It is a great privilege to be here. I have always wanted to play in the Premier League and now, on my birthday, I can make that dream a reality. Everything I have experienced so far is important for this next chapter and I want to keep improving here."