Arsenal are now showing interest in the transfer of Feyenoord ace Santiago Gimenez as Mikel Arteta seeks out a new striker, so here is everything that you need to know.
The Gunners have marked signing a new No9 as one of their targets to strengthen in the off-season. Arteta believes Arsenal must add to his attack to start next term with enough at his disposal to vie for the Premier League title after falling short of the crown again in 2023/24.
Arsenal scored a club-record 91 goals during the last top-flight season but only Bukayo Saka (16), Kai Havertz (13) and Leandro Trossard (12) hit double digits. Recognised strikers Eddie Nketiah (5) and Gabriel Jesus (4) also rarely fired home to lose Arteta’s faith late in the term.
Arsenal are interested in Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez
So, Gimenez has now emerged as one of the names on Arteta’s radar as Arsenal explore the transfer window. The forward impressed for Feyenoord in 23/24 as he scored 26 goals in 41 games. He also offered 23 of the attacker’s tally across 30 Eredivisie games under Arne Slot.
The Evening Standard has reported Arsenal’s interest in Gimenez’s transfer from Feyenoord as one of Arteta’s potential targets. Emirates Stadium chiefs are only showing initial interest in the attacker so far. Gimenez has even attracted interest from rival Premier League squads.
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According to HITC, Tottenham Hotspur have deemed Gimenez as their top forward target for this summer’s transfer window. Spurs have also made moves to discuss a deal for the striker whom Feyenoord price at £42m. Gimenez has a contract at De Kuip through until June 2027.
But who is Gimenez and why are Arsenal interested in his potential transfer from Feyenoord this summer? Here is everything that you need to know about the forward on Arteta’s radar.
Who is Arsenal transfer target Santiago Gimenez?
Santiago Gimenez is a centre-forward currently playing for the Eredivisie giants, Feyenoord. He joined the Rotterdam outfit from CD Cruz Azul back in July 2022 for his first adventure in Europe. The striker had even only played for Cruz Azul at all levels before joining Feyenoord.
Cruz Azul signed Gimenez as a youth prospect and nurtured his development through their various age levels to the first-team. He even earned the attacker’s senior debut under Paco Jemez in August 2017 at 16 years, three months and 16 days old in a Copa MX Apertura tie.
Gimenez ultimately established himself firmly at the senior level across the 2020/21 season after sporadic chances in the term prior. His potential then continued to grow to deserve a move to Feyenoord in 2022 after also debuting for Mexico in October 2021 against Ecuador.
Gerardo Martino awarded Gimenez his senior international breakthrough in a friendly two years after the forward first featured in a Mexico squad. The attacker even laid on an assist on his debut and scored in his second start when El Tri travelled to Chile in December 2021.
How old is Santiago Gimenez? When was he born?
At the time of writing, Santiago Gimenez is 23 years old. The Feyenoord striker was born on April 18, 2001 and his father, Christian Gimenez, was also a professional footballer. Christian played for clubs including Boca Juniors, CA Independiente and Cruz Azul from 1998 to 2019.
Where and when was Santiago Gimenez born?
Despite being a senior Mexico international and featuring in Under-18 and U23 squads with El Tri, Feyenoord striker Gimenez was actually born in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. He also holds dual nationality with the two but never played with La Albiceleste at any level.
What position does Santiago Gimenez play?
Santiago Gimenez predominantly plays in the position of striker but is also capable of taking up wider areas. The attacker has sporadically played as a winger in his career and will often occupy wide spaces. But it is extremely rare for Gimenez to not start as an out-and-out No9.
How good is Santiago Gimenez? What has been said about him?
Cruz Azul sold Gimenez to Feyenoord having shown flashes of his potential in Mexico. But a move to the Netherlands brought the best out of his raw skill, with 15 goals in 32 Eredivisie appearances in the attacker’s first season. He ended the 2022/23 term with 23 in 45 games.
Gimenez’s continued growth in Rotterdam also saw Feyenoord icon Mario Been wax lyrical about his talents after tearing through AFC Ajax in September 2023. The striker made a big impression by scoring twice and creating another before De Klassiker was briefly stopped.
Been told ESPN, via quotes by Goal: “Gimenez truly is fantastic. He hadn’t even touched the ball before his first goal but that was a fantastic finish.”
Gimenez completed a hat-trick when Feyenoord and Ajax’s encounter was restarted behind closed doors. It had only taken him 18 minutes to score twice in the original match and took him three minutes to score again as the game was resumed a few days later last September.
Dirk Kuyt has sung Gimenez’s praises, as well, after the Feyenoord forward mesmerised the Liverpool hero with his ability to lose defenders. The modest attacker offered Kuyt a taste of his skill after ravishing Excelsior Rotterdam en route to becoming a fan favourite at De Kuip.
“He is here again between the defenders and he is really fast,” Kuyt stated in May 2023, via Voetbal International. “Watching the goalkeeper before he shoots, the peace and quiet. In my opinion, he is currently the best striker in the Eredivisie.”
Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez’s career stats
Arsenal are now showing an interest in potentially targeting a transfer for Gimenez as he has continually developed his goalscoring touch since joining Feyenoord from Cruz Azul in 2022. The forward’s efforts at De Kuip far outweigh what he produced in senior football in Mexico.
CD Cruz Azul, Under-20s: 55 games, 52 starts, 22 goals, 0 assists
CD Cruz Azul, first-team: 105 games, 55 starts, 21 goals, 11 assists
Feyenoord, first-team: 86 games, 66 starts, 49 goals, 11 assists