Alex Tóth says life at Bournemouth has "been better than expected" as he settles quickly into Premier League football. Guided by mentor Robbie Keane and inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, the Hungarian midfielder is embracing the challenge, building friendships, and focusing on improvement.
AFC Bournemouth’s Hungarian midfielder Alex Tóth has been settling quickly into life on the south coast, revealing that his move to the Premier League has exceeded expectations both on and off the pitch.
The 20-year-old, who has made six appearances for the Cherries, signed from Ferencváros on in January for an initial £10.4 million fee (rising to around £13 million with add-ons) on a five-and-a-half-year contract, marking a major step up for the box-to-box talent who had come through the Budapest club’s academy.
Speaking on AFCBTV’s Boot Room, Tóth admitted his transition has been made easier by the people around him: "To be honest, very good. Better than I expected because everybody was so helpful… all the lads and all the staff was helping me in everything."
Having only recently arrived, the Hungarian is still getting to grips with his new surroundings, but is already enjoying the quieter lifestyle compared to his home city. "Budapest is a big city… this one is quite smaller and more quiet… I think it’s better for me to focus just on football."
Settling in on and off the pitch
Tóth has quickly built relationships within the squad, highlighting team bonding moments away from the training ground. "We had some team dinner… it was a nice time to spend time with the boys", he said, pointing to a growing sense of belonging within the group: "We went to some steakhouse here in Westbourne. It was a nice place. Enes [Unal] was the was the main guy who told us to go there".
Mentorship and the Premier League step up
A key influence in his development has been former manager Robbie Keane, whom Tóth describes as "more than a coach… like my mentor."
Keane’s advice has stuck firmly with the midfielder, particularly the emphasis on mentality: "You need to win everything… even if it’s training… you have to get that winning mentality".
He also revealed that both Keane and fellow Hungarian internationals encouraged his move to England, reinforcing that Bournemouth was the right step: "He told me also that this is the best club for me".
Inspired by Ronaldo, focused on growth
Like many young players, Tóth grew up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, and didn’t hesitate when asked to settle the age-old debate: "For me Ronaldo. No question".
Despite that admiration, he remains grounded and focused on improvement, taking inspiration from teammates and opponents alike as he adjusts to the demands of Premier League football.
Life beyond football
Away from the pitch, Tóth’s personality shines through. A passionate Formula One fan, he credits his father for sparking the interest: "Every weekend he watches Formula One… accidentally I loved it."
He also enjoys karting and is confident in his abilities, joking: "We speak with Veljko [Milosavljević] that maybe we will go here someday karting, but I will beat him for sure", when discussing potential races with teammates.
A love for Lego
Perhaps more surprisingly, Tóth has developed a recent love for Lego, using it as a way to switch off: "I loved the Legos when I was a kid, but to be honest, one year ago I started it. And since then, since one year, I play Legos when I have some free time to not be on the phone. So I put music on and do some Legos for like one hour and two hours. So I have quite a big collection now"
A player embracing the journey
From adapting to a new city to embracing the intensity of English football, Tóth’s early months suggest a player both grounded and ambitious. With strong influences behind him and a clear mindset, Bournemouth fans will be encouraged by how quickly their new midfielder is finding his feet - and how high he believes he can go.