Wolves striker Raúl Jiménez is set to leave the club and sign for fellow Premier League side Fulham this summer. The Mexican striker will cost the Londoners £5.5m, with his addition likely a replacement for Aleksandr Mitrovic, who wants to leave the club.
Jiménez departs the club five years after joining from Benfica for €38m. In 156 games for Wolves, the striker scored 57 goals and 24 assists. His time at Wolves was hampered by a serious head injury suffered against Arsenal in late 2020. He only scored nine of his goals for the club after that horrifying moment.
As his time at Molineux has come to an end, we take a look back at Jiménez's three biggest moments for Wolves.
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Raúl Jiménez: Biggest moments at Wolves
Debut Premier League goal in draw against Everton
Raúl Jiménez's first league goal for Wolves came in a 2-2 draw against Everton back in August 2018. The Toffees twice held the lead, but twice were pegged back. The second time came from a Jiménez header from a Rúben Neves cross into the box.
Everton played the whole second half down a man after Phil Jagielka was sent off for a dangerous challenge. Remarkably, the Evertonians retook the lead midway through the second half via Richarlison. However, Jiménez decided that would not determine the outcome. Playing his first full 90 minutes for the club, the Mexican's bullet header found the bottom right corner, giving Jordan Pickford no chance.
Penalty against Olympiakos
After a stellar first campaign at Wolves, the Midlands side qualified for the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League. This was the campaign that was halted due to COVID-19, which left much uncertainty in the world of football.
Wolves ultimately made the quarterfinals of the competition before bowing out to eventual winners Sevilla. In 13 games in the competition (including qualifying), Raúl Jiménez scored 10 goals. His last one was the most significant one of the lot.
Taking on Greek giants Olympiakos in the round of 16, Wolves played the second leg at home. The first leg ended 1-1 in Greece, which occurred just before the lockdown. However, just eight minutes into the return leg at Molineux, Daniel Podence was fouled inside the box.
Jiménez stepped up and converted the ensuing penalty, sending Olympiakos keeper Bobby Allain the wrong way. That proved to be the only goal of the second leg, as Wolves progressed at the expense of the Greek side.
First goal following serious head injury
On 29 November 2020, Jiménez suffered a life-altering head injury, resulting from a clash of heads with then-Arsenal defender David Luiz. The incident came just 15 minutes into the match off a corner. Both players went for the cross and their heads clashed.
Raúl Jiménez was hospitalized for a week and a half, with many doubts about whether the Mexican would play football again. Fortunately, he managed to do so. He did not touch the field again that season. However, he has since worn protective head gear for matches.
In his sixth match since returning from the scary injury, Jiménez scored again. It came an hour into the match at St. Mary's against Southampton. Then-goalkeeper Jose Sá provided the assist on the occasion. A long clearance saw the striker run onto the ball, holding off one defender, beating another, then converting the shot. It was the game's only goal, as Wolves had a crucial win back to Molineux with them.
Jiménez only scored eight more goals for the club after that, but that marker at Southampton just might be his most memorable goal given the circumstances.
