Bournemouth have taken full-back Alex Jimenez on loan from AC Milan in an agreement which means they will have to sign the Spaniard on a permanent deal if he makes 18 Premier League starts this season.

If he hits that mark then the Cherries will sign the 20-year-old permanently for £16.5m.

The Spain youth international, who came through Real Madrid’s academy, said: “It has always been one of my dreams to play in the Premier League.”

Jimenez will provide manager Andoni Iraola with another defensive option following the signings of centre-back Bafode Diakite for £34.6m from Lille, left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes for £14.4m and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic for £25m from Chelsea.

Bournemouth have had a busy summer, having lost defenders Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez for a combined total of about £150m to Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.