Álex Baena is one of the hottest young football talents in Europe right now, and by 2026, he’s already made massive moves including a €50 million transfer to Atlético Madrid, winning Euro 2024 with Spain, and grabbing an Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Álex Baena’s Biography
| Attribute | Information |
| Full Name | Alejandro Baena Rodríguez |
| Nickname | Álex |
| Date of Birth | July 20, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Roquetas de Mar, Almería, Andalusia, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Religion | N/A |
| Height | 174–175 cm (5’9″) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Position | Left Winger / Attacking Midfielder |
| Youth Clubs | Villarreal CF Youth Academy (2011–2019) |
| Senior Clubs | Villarreal CF (2019–2025), Atlético Madrid (2025–present) |
| Jersey Number | 10 (at Atlético Madrid) |
| International Debut | September 12, 2023 (vs Cyprus) |
| Turned Professional | 2019/20 season (July 13, 2020) |
| Net Worth | $5–10 million USD |
| Annual Salary | €4.5 million gross |
| Marital Status | Not married |
| Spouse / Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @alexbbaena |
After 24 years of life, Álex Baena has built an impressive football career while keeping his personal life pretty private. He’s Spanish, born in the sunny coastal town of Roquetas de Mar, and has never publicly shared details about his religion, marital status, or family. What we do know is he’s focused entirely on football, having just made one of the biggest moves in his career by joining Atlético Madrid.
Early Career
Baena joined Villarreal’s youth academy in 2011 at just 10 years old and spent eight years grinding through every level from U12 up to the senior team. He made his official first-team debut in the 2019/20 season on July 13, 2020, against Real Sociedad. During his early years, he also had a loan spell at Girona where he helped them earn promotion, showing he could deliver results even away from Villarreal.
Professional Career
From 2020 to 2025, Baena became Villarreal’s standout player, making 108 LaLiga appearances with 15 goals and 25 assists. In 2023, he debuted for Spain and scored immediately against Cyprus. He topped LaLiga in assists during 2023-24 with 14, won Euro 2024, and grabbed Olympic gold in Paris 2024. In July 2025, Atlético Madrid signed him for €50 million on a 5-year contract through 2030, giving him the iconic #10 jersey. By 2025/26, he’s already made 27 LaLiga appearances with 2 goals and 3 assists for Atleti.
Álex Baena’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Álex Baena’s estimated net worth falls between $5 million and $10 million USD. This estimate comes from his professional football career, his recent massive transfer to Atlético Madrid, his salary of €4.5 million per year, and his growing reputation as one of Spain’s top young talents. The net worth range reflects that he’s still early in his career at 24 years old, but with his €50 million transfer fee and lucrative contract, his wealth is definitely growing fast. Keep in mind this is an estimate since he hasn’t publicly disclosed his exact financial situation.
Contract
Álex Baena signed an official 5-year contract with Atlético Madrid on July 2, 2025, that runs through June 30, 2030. The transfer fee was €42 million in fixed amount plus variables that can push the total to €55 million, with €8 million in accessible variables and €5 million in premium variables tied to titles and future sale percentage.
He’s earning €4.5 million gross per year including all performance-related bonuses, making this one of the solid long-term deals for a young Spanish midfielder. The contract officially makes him Atleti’s number 10, replacing Ángel Correa who left for Tigres UANL in Mexico.
Salary
Álex Baena’s salary at Atlético Madrid is €4.5 million gross per season, which breaks down to about €667,000 per month. This salary includes all his performance-related bonuses and represents a significant jump from his previous earnings at Villarreal.
Over his 5-year contract through 2030, he’ll earn a total of €54 million gross (€4.5 million × 5 years = €22.5 million, but the contract value including bonuses reaches €54 million). His monthly wage of €667K makes him one of the higher-paid young players in LaLiga, and this salary reflects his status as Euro 2024 champion, Olympic gold medalist, and LaLiga’s top assist provider from the 2023-24 season.
Career Earnings
| Season | Club | League | Estimated Annual Salary |
| 2019/20–2022/23 | Villarreal CF | LaLiga | €500,000 – €1 million |
| 2023/24 | Villarreal CF | LaLiga | €2 million – €3 million |
| 2024/25 | Villarreal CF | LaLiga | €3.5 million |
| 2025/26–2029/30 | Atlético Madrid | LaLiga | €4.5 million per year |
| Total Career Earnings (Estimated) | €15–20 million+ |
This table shows how Baena’s salary has grown steadily as he became Villarreal’s star player and then secured his mega-deal with Atlético Madrid. The €4.5 million annual salary at Atleti is his career peak so far.
Endorsements
Álex Baena hasn’t publicly announced any major endorsement deals as of 2026, which is pretty common for players who are still building their brand outside of Spain. Most of his income comes straight from his football salary and transfer fees rather than sponsorship deals.
However, given his Euro 2024 victory, Olympic gold medal, and €50 million transfer to Atlético Madrid, he’s definitely becoming more attractive to potential sponsors. Young Spanish football stars often get deals with sportswear brands, energy drinks, or financial services once they hit this level of recognition, so endorsements could be coming soon even if they’re not public yet.
Career Records
| Record/Achievement | Detail | Year |
| LaLiga Top Assister | 14 assists (tied with Nico Williams & Iago Aspas) | 2023-24 |
| Euro 2024 Champion | Won European Championship with Spain | 2024 |
| Olympic Gold Medal | Paris 2024 Men’s Football Tournament | 2024 |
| International Debut Goal | Scored on first Spain appearance (6-0 vs Cyprus) | 2023 |
| Villarreal Appearances | 108 LaLiga games, 15 goals, 25 assists | 2020–2025 |
| Total LaLiga Career | 135 games, 17 goals, 28 assists | 2020–2026 |
| Transfer Fee | €50 million from Villarreal to Atlético Madrid | 2025 |
| Contract Length | 5 years (2025–2030) | 2025 |
| International Caps | 15 appearances, 2 goals for Spain | 2023–2026 |
| World Cup 2026 | Selected in Spain’s 26-man squad | 2026 |
FAQs
1. Who is Álex Baena?
Álex Baena is Alejandro “Álex” Baena Rodríguez, a Spanish professional footballer born on July 20, 2001, in Roquetas de Mar, Spain. He plays as a left midfielder or attacking midfielder for Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team.
2. What position does Álex Baena play?
Baena plays primarily as an attacking midfielder (center/left) and also as a left winger/left midfielder. He is known for his playmaking, dribbling, and ability to create goals.
3. Which club does Álex Baena currently play for?
As of 2025, Baena plays for Atlético Madrid in La Liga, having transferred from Villarreal CF in a €50 million deal. He wears jersey number 10 for Atleti.
4. When did Álex Baena join Atlético Madrid and how much was the transfer fee?
Baena joined Atlético Madrid in summer 2025 after Villarreal and Atlético agreed on a €50 million transfer (€45 million plus €5 million in bonuses). He signed a five-year contract until June 2030.
5. What are Álex Baena’s career goals and assists at Villarreal?
At Villarreal, Baena made 148 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 40 assists. In the 2024–25 La Liga season alone, he recorded 7 goals and 9 assists in 32 matches.
6. Has Álex Baena won any major international titles with Spain?
Yes. Baena won UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain and also won the Olympic men’s football gold medal at Paris 2024. He is one of only two players (with Fermín López) to win both titles in the same summer.
7. How many caps does Álex Baena have for the Spain national team?
Baena has earned 10 caps for Spain as of 2025 and became a regular for La Roja after his Euro 2024 success. He scored his first international goal against Cyprus in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
8. Did Álex Baena ever consider quitting football?
Yes. In early 2025, Baena admitted he was close to quitting football altogether after a controversial incident with Fede Valverde caused intense media criticism. He said his “head exploded” and he didn’t want to continue at that point.
9. Who are Álex Baena’s football inspirations?
Baena has cited Barcelona legends Leo Messi and Andrés Iniesta as his main inspirations. Messi is his favorite legendary athlete, and he admires Iniesta’s playing style.
10. What is Álex Baena’s market value and salary at Atlético Madrid?
Baena’s market value is approximately €58.4 million. At Atlético Madrid, he earns around €4.5 million per season gross on his 5-year contract, compared to his previous €2 million per season at Villarreal.