So is this his first time in England?
No. Unfortunately for Alonso it didn’t work out with Real Madrid, who moved him on to Bolton Wanderers, where the Spaniard made a handful of appearances before Bolton were relegated in 2012 from the Premier League.
Alonso had more success in the Championship, making 26 appearances and scoring four goals before moving to Fiorentina, but was immediately loaned back to England with Sunderland taking him temporarily.