Feyenoord 1 EN03 February 2025 14:02

Santiago Gimenez makes transfer to AC Milan

Feyenoord and AC Milan have reached an agreement on the final transfer of Santiago Gimenez. The Mexican striker, who still had an ongoing contract at De Kuip until mid-2027, will make an immediate switch to the Italian superpower.

Gimenez bids farewell to Feyenoord with emotion. 'This will forever remain my first big club in Europe. And Rotterdam the place I left my home in Mexico for. That alone makes this departure one with many emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed my two and a half years at this club and in this city. From the first moment I entered here, I was embraced by the legion. The love I received from them and all the people at the club, I will carry with me forever.'

'I look back with pride on our fine achievements with the championship and the celebrations in the city as absolute highlights. It will be crazy to return here already in a week and a half in the colours of another club, but I will always look forward to seeing everyone at Feyenoord again.'

Managing director Dennis te Kloese is left with a double feeling about the record transfer. 'At this moment, with still a lot to play for, you obviously don't want to lose important players. So we held off the boat for as long as possible, but at a certain point you reach a point - or rather an amount - where it is simply no longer responsible as a club to keep saying no and it is also no longer explainable to the player.'

‘It is logical that Brian Priske would have preferred to keep Santi, but we still have a big, strong group with numerous internationals and fortunately a few players are also returning from the sickbay,’ Te Kloese stated. ‘In addition, despite it being very short notice, we are obviously also looking at what we can do these last days of the window to strengthen the squad.’

Gimenez was acquired by Feyenoord in the summer of 2022 from his youth club Cruz Azul in Mexico. In his debut season for Feyenoord, ‘Santi’ initially competed for the role of first striker with Danilo. The charismatic Mexican was soon popular with the crowd at De Kuip, but first made himself immortal with the Legion in Feyenoord's final group game of the Europa League campaign against Lazio Roma. Gimenez scored the only goal in it, catapulting Feyenoord to an unexpected group win and European victory.

After the winter break of the 2022-2023 season, Gimenez became Feyenoord's undisputed attacking leader. Thanks in part to the left-legged Mexican's scoring drive, Feyenoord crowned themselves champions at the end of the football year for the 16th time in the club's history. As befits a true goal scorer, Gimenez put his name on the score sheet with a fine shot during the 3-0 victory against Go Ahead Eagles.

Also in his second season in the Feyenoord shirt, Gimenez did what he is so good at: scoring. With a hat-trick in the ArenA, he was the big man in the 0-4 win against Ajax. And in his very first UEFA Champions League game, at home against Lazio Roma, he also made his mark with two goals in the 3-1 win.

Since his arrival at Feyenoord, Gimenez has played 105 games for the stadium club. The 32-time Mexican international scored no less than 65 times, while also providing 14 assists. With Feyenoord, he won three major prizes: the 2022-2023 national title, the TOTO KNVB Cup of the 2023-2024 season, and the Johan Cruijff Schaal early this football year.

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