Thanks to his sensational goal record, Santiago Gimenez is one of the most sought-after strikers and Leicester City are one of those clubs interested.
A striker has been at the top of Steve Cooper’s shopping list all summer but has failed to land any targets in this summer window.
Deals for Adam Hlzoek and Wilfred Zaha both broke down, while interest in Fotis Ioannidis seems to have cooled. Panathainkos wants in the region of £30m and the Foxes face competition for his signature but attention has now reportedly turned to Santiago Gimenez.
Should Leicester City be successful in their pursuit, signing Gimenez would be a statement addition and could go a long way in helping them avoid their battle against the drop.
So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
READ MORE: Confirmed Leicester City summer 2024 transfer ins and outs, signings & done deals
Latest Santiago Gimenez transfer news
The Foxes face competition for the Mexico international’s signature.
Local rivals Nottingham Forest are interested and reportedly had a £23m bid knocked back before they chose to go for Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal instead.
Gimenez’s current employer, Feyenoord, is determined not to sell him and Dutch outlet Voetbal International recently reported that the 23-year-old is “definitely not moving” to Forest.
Feyenoord boss Brian Pirkse didn’t seem as confident but remained hopeful when asked earlier this window.
He said: “I have no idea. I hope he stays with us. But as long as the transfer window is open, it is naive to expect everyone to stay on board.
“Football is football, you never know. But the closer we get to the deadline, the better we can see the skeleton of the team. Santiago is fully motivated to play here and do his best.”
Santiago Gimenez personal profile: Place of birth, age, height, current club, nationality
- Full name: Santiago Tomas Gimenez
- Age: 23 (April 18, 2001)
- Height: Six feet zero inches (1.82m)
- Place of birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Nationality: Mexican
- Current club: Feyenoord
- Position: Striker
- Shirt number: 29
Santiago Gimenez stats: Previous clubs and international record
Club career
Gimenez started his career in Mexico with Cruz Azul. He made his first-team debut aged 17 against Tigres UANL in a Copa Mx tie on 2 August 2017.
He then scored his first senior goal on 2 February 2020 against Toluca in a 3-3 draw where he found the back of the net two minutes into the game.
The forward would score 21 goals in 105 appearances before being signed by Feyenoord in 2022, agreeing a four-year deal.
His debut season at the club saw them win the Eredivisie in the 2022-23 campaign in which he scored 15 goals in 32 games, including a goal in the game that saw them wrap up the league title against Go Ahead Eagles.
In 2023 Gimenez made history by setting the record for most goals scored in a calendar year in the Eredivisie, scoring 31 times.
This time round he would improve on his goal tally, finishing with 23 from 30 league games and 26 in all competitions however it wasn’t enough to retain the title as PSV Eindhoven finished seven points clear at the top.
International career
Despite having the option to represent Argentina, his country of birth, Gimenez opted to play for Mexico, stating: “I feel more Mexican than Argentine”.
He made his senior debut on 27 October 2021 in a friendly against Ecuador before scoring his first goal in a 2-2 draw against Chile on 8 December 2021.
Gimenez was included in Mexico’s 31-man preliminary squad for the 2022 World Cup but didn’t make the final 26. One year later, he scored the only goal of the game in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Panama.
Stats
- Cruz Azul: 105 appearances, 21 goals, 11 assists
- Feyenoord: 89 appearances, 53 goals, 13 assists
- Mexico: 29 appearances, four goals
Santiago Gimenez market value and wage
According to Transfermarkt, Gimenez is valued at £33.8m and is the most valuable player in the Eredivisie side’s squad.
Capology also states that the 23-year-old earns a salary of £28,660-a-week, equating to £1.49m across the 2024-25 season, making him the club’s fifth highest-earning player.
Santiago Gimenez style of play
Although naturally left-footed, Gimenez is extremely comfortable with the ball at either foot, something that has aided his one-touch finishing over the years.
Similar to the way Jamie Vardy plays, Gimenez thrives on sitting on the shoulder of the last man before using his acceleration to burst away and leave them behind.
Santiago Gimenez family: mum, dad, girlfriend
Gimenez’s father is Christian Gimenez, who was also known as ‘Chaco’.
Like his son, Christian played for Cruz Azul alongside the likes of Boca Juniors, Independiente, Pachuca and played for the Mexican national team five times.
His grandfather on his dad’s side is originally from Paraguay whilst his mum’s side has a line of Italian ancestry.
He’s also engaged to Mexican model, Fer Serrano.
Santiago Gimenez Instagram and X/Twitter accounts
Santiago Gimenez can be found on Instagram with the handle @Sant.Gimenez.
He can also be found on X/Twitter with the handle @Santigim11.