AFC Bournemouth have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid winger Rodrigo Riquelme, subject to international clearance.
The highly-rated 20-year-old has put pen to paper on a season-long loan at Vitality Stadium, which also includes an option for the Cherries to make the move permanent.
Born in Madrid, former Spain youth international Riquelme rose through the ranks at Atletico, before making his first team debut in September 2019 in a La Liga victory over SD Eibar.
He also featured in the Copa del Rey and was a regular in Atletico’s matchday squads during the second half of last season.
Riquelme becomes manager Jason Tindall’s first signing and will be available to face Coventry City in the Championship on Friday, subject to receiving international clearance.
“I am very happy to be here,” Riquelme told afcbTV.
“Bournemouth is a very good club and this was the right move for me.
“I came here to improve myself and to help the team get back to the Premier League, which is where this club should be.
“I am excited to get started.”
AFC Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall said: “It is great to have a new signing on board and especially someone of Rodrigo’s quality.
“I have made it very clear that we will only sign players who can improve our squad and we have now done that.
“This football club has been synonymous with impactful wingers over the years, and Rodrigo fits that bill perfectly.
“He is a creative, exciting talent who I cannot wait to start working with.”
AFC Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said: “Rodrigo is someone we have been chasing for a long time, so I am delighted that our patience and persistence has paid off.
“He is an extremely talented player who has appeared for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and will complement the quality that is already in our squad.
“In recent years we have looked to sign some of the brightest young players around, and having fought off a lot of competition for Rodrigo, we believe we have captured another one.”
