Edson Alvarez: Bio, Salary, Net worth, Lifestyle, Club and International Career

Edson Alvarez has an interesting background story documenting his foray into football. His family was into football kit manufacturing for the local clubs, which got him acquainted with the game. At a very young age of five, Álvarez joined Pachuca, before leaving the club just two years later due to his short stature. He had also contemplated quitting the game, but his parents were relentless in persuading him to carry on, as they believed in his potential. That belief and faith his parents had in him came full circle as he would go on to represent his country as well as some of the big clubs in Europe.

After four years at Ajax, Alvarez joined West Ham for a reported fee of £35 million. In doing so, he became the fourth Mexican player, after Guillermo Franco, Pablo Barrera, and Javier Hernández, to represent Premier League side West Ham United, also known as the Hammers. However, this might be the last year we will see Alvarez playing at the London Stadium. His form has dipped and there is speculation that Alvarez might be well on his way out. Rumour has it that fellow Premier League team Manchester United had approached West Ham on the pretext of signing him up for their team, but that offer was turned down by “The Irons” management.

Edson Alvarez Bio

Edson Alvarez Family and Early Life

Edson Alavarez grew up in a country that loves football. Unlike the Americans, who call this game soccer, the Mexicans prefer to call it “futbol,” like the rest of the world. Alvarez was born in a family which has a keen interest in the sport; his father, Evaristo, was a footballer. Alvarez cites his childhood experiences by saying, “My first family memories were all about football. We had a routine every weekend: We would all have breakfast together and then, no matter what, Saturday or Sunday, we would go to my dad’s game.” He also shared how his discipline for the game was inculcated in him from an early age by his parents. He credits his parents for instilling a love for the sport in him.

Alvarez also highlighted the sacrifices made by his father by sticking with him through the long and hard journey. "My dad is my mentor, the best, along with my mom. When I played for Pachuca [a club team in Hidalgo], he would wake up at 4:30 a.m. and take me to training. Later, when I played for América [one of Mexico City’s club teams], he taught me how to get to the far south training camps, and he never missed a game of mine.”- said Alavarez, recalling how his road to the big stage of football wasn't made sleeping on a bed of roses.

Playing Style and Strengths

Edson Alvarez's capability was noticed by the West Ham United management, and they roped him in with a lucrative deal of 35.4 million euros. What caught their eye was his aptitude, his versatility, as he can easily fill in as a centre back too. His mental attributes and his movement with the ball were noteworthy, too. Moreover, his off-the-ball movement and supporting positions, particularly in the early possession phases, allow his team to get out of defence and gain control of advanced midfield positions quickly.

Alvarez's defensive interceptions, too, have that sting in them. Alvarez recorded an impressive 5.92 interceptions per 90 during his time at Ajax, highlighting his awareness and ability to read the game. Communication is important in football, and the players involved, sometimes have to shout instructions or signal them through their gestures. He sometimes uses it as a decoy to fool the opposing players by pointing at one direction and then passing the ball to the other end. The 27-year-old is very good at that, making his voice heard through the pitch. In the build-up, the game picture is in his head, so he can use his movements to bring away an opposition player and open a new passing lane. His positional awareness is also on point, which creates a good circulation structure for the team.

Edson Alvarez Net Worth

Edson Álvarez net worth is not known, but his earnings have been on the higher end of the spectrum. He signed with West Ham United for a whopping 35.4 million after his brilliant display for Ajax. His four-year contract has a price tag of 20.80 million euros. Alvarez's contract will run its course in June 2028, but it seems that he might be on his way out even before that. The reason being his somewhat lacklustre performance over the recent year. He seems to have lost a step and has experienced a drop in form.

Edson Alvarez Salary

Edson Alvarez makes a healthy figure of about 108,000 euros every week and an annual salary of 5,200,000 euros per year. The defensive midfielder is doing well for himself and his family, and his family is settled down in London.

Edson Alvarez Partner

With his rise in football, Edson Alvarez's fans have also developed an interest in his personal life. Football fans want to know every nitty-gritty of their favourite star's romantic entanglements. Alvarez's partner is Sofia Toache, who was born on October 25, 1998 according to Sports Brief. The Mexican national has made a name for herself as a model and Instagram star. Despite her considerable online following, Toache remains very private about her family and early life. She completed her education at the local Mexican University at the Azcapotzalco campus.

Edson Alvarez has been in a committed relationship with model Sofia Toache for quite some time. Although the couple has kept the details of how their romance developed, Sports Brief did some digging into their relationship. The couple first met in 2018 and within a year of their relationship, they welcomed their first child. Toache, who is quite active on social media, regularly shares snippets of her life on social media, posting selfies, vacation photos, and candid moments with Alvarez and their two daughters..

Edson Alvarez Career

Edson Alvarez's career was moulded in the youth system of Pachuca and America. After spending three years at Club America, he was signed by Ajax on a five-year contract. Following this, he moved to London as he joined West Ham under David Moyes tutelage and has been in the club ever since.

Alvarez made his senior national debut on 8th February against Iceland, replacing Jesús Molina in the 60th minute. Since then,n he has been a part of innumerable matches for El Tri, providing strong support to Mexico's midfield.

Club Career

In 2014, at age 16, Álvarez joined Club América's youth system, playing for the under-17 team. The following year, while still playing for the under-17 squad, Álvarez got promoted to América's second division team. Despite getting a call from coach Ignacio Ambríz, Álvarez had to sit that game out against Monarcas Morelia. Disappointing as it may be not getting his first start, he more than made up for it on his official debut on 29th October 2016. Alvarez produced a stellar performance over Santos Laguna. He played the entire duration of the match. He scored his first career goal in the Apertura final against Tigres UANL. Two years later, Alvarez did even better. Replacing Mateus Uribe for the return leg of the Apertura final against Cruz Azul, he scored twice as America won their 13th league title. His 100th outing for the club was also a special one. His team won 3-0 against Lobos BUAP.

After leaving his indelible mark on his local circuit, he shifted base to the Netherlands, signing with Ajax. After clearing his medicals, Álvarez made his competitive debut for Ajax as a 74th-minute substitute in the team's 4–1 league win over VVV-Venlo. He scored his first goal on his debut against APOEL and also scored on his Champions League debut against Lille in a 3-0 victory. It made him the first Mexican player in history to score in his Champions League debut. His first Eredivisie goal came against Ajax in a 5–0 victory over ADO Den Haag. Alvarez, it seemed, had found his groove at Ajax and was nominated for the league Player of the Year Award. He was also inducted into the Club van 100, making his 100th appearance among the select few who have achieved this incredible feat.

After fulfilling his duties at Ajax, Edson embarked on a new journey, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of £35 million. His official debut came as a substitute for James Ward-Prowse in a victory over Chelsea. He scored his first goal for the club in a Europa League match against Freiburg.

International Career

Edson made his senior debut against Iceland, replacing Jesús Molina in the 60th minute. He was then called up for the Gold Cup.As a result, he became the youngest player on the squad. The former Pachuca youth academy product scored his first goal for the national team in their 2–0 win over Curacao. This goal etched his name in Gold Cup history as the youngest ever Mexican player to score in the Gold Cup tournament.

Alvarez secured a call at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and featured in all of their matches in the tournament. He was the youngest player on the squad in that campaign. Mexico's World Cup hopes were shattered when the team was knocked out at the Round of 16 by Brazil. He again made a return to the Gold Cup in 2019, which Mexico would again go on to win. Alvarez came back to play at the second World Cup of his career in 2022 and played in two matches against Poland and Saudi Arabia.

Edson Alvarez Awards and Achievements

Edson Alvarez, in his decade-long career, has many awards and achievements to his name. From featuring in CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI to CONCACAF U-20 Championship, here is the list of all notable awards and achievements of Edson Alvarez: