Raul Jimenez’s five-year stay with Wolves has come to an end after the striker completed a permanent move to Fulham.
The Mexican leaves Molineux with 57 goals to his name, having played an integral role in the club’s modern day successes, and a life-threatening injury picked up in Old Gold action underlined his buy-in to Wolves, but now after five years in the West Midlands, the two parties go their separate ways.
Signed from Benfica upon the club’s promotion and looking for a new home, Jimenez and Wolves were fitted perfectly, from the moment he headed home a momentous equaliser in front of the South Bank on his Old Gold debut against Everton.
An all-round centre forward, Jimenez was providing vital assists as quickly as scoring as Wolves enjoyed a captivating first season back in the top flight – big strikes in wins over Chelsea under the lights and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley two of the highlights.
A goalscorer on one of Molineux’s finest recent nights against Manchester United in the FA Cup, the Mexican then made his move to England permanent, days before bagging back at Wembley in the semi-final – one of 17 goals in a fine debut season in the West Midlands.
By the 2019/20 campaign, Jimenez was one of the Premier League’s top number nines. 27 goals in 55 appearances followed as Wolves finished seventh and journeyed to the last eight of the Europa League, in a campaign Jimenez was voted Player of the Season.
No player has scored more Premier League goals for Wolves than Jimenez, who hit double figures in Europe too, in the early qualifying rounds at Torino, all the way through to firing Wolves to the last eight with the winner against Olympiacos.
The following November however, football was put into perspective. A sickening head injury for the number nine was life-threatening, but with incredible bravery, and support of the Wolves family and football world, he battled back to full fitness by the following summer and was back playing within just nine months.
A first goal back at Southampton was a special moment. However, that proved one of six goals scored that campaign by Jimenez, whose time to part emerged after last season, when injuries were a frustration and opportunities became limited.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “Raul has been an incredible servant to the football club, both on and off the pitch. Because of his goals and overall selfless performances, particularly during those first two years at the club, he’ll rightly go down as one of the greatest number nines to ever represent Wolves.
“From the moment he arrived, he bought into the project and was instrumental in some of the club’s greatest achievements in recent years, both in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League, and you could see at the last home game how much he’s loved and appreciated by our fans.
“We all know what Raul went through with his injury and his journey to full recovery was an inspiration to everyone, particularly when he stepped back on the pitch for the first time – we all have the ultimate respect for Raul.”
