Santiago Gimenez, the 22-year-old Feyenoord forward, is making waves in European football as one of the hottest strikers in the game. He started the season with an impressive 15 goals in 12 games across all competitions. The recent Eredivisie defeat against Twente Enschede, where he failed to score for the first time this year, was seen as an anomaly. Prior to that match, Gimenez had scored in nine consecutive competitive matches, making him the leading scorer in all of the top 10 UEFA ranked leagues.
According to Kevin Lux, the Area Manager Netherlands, Gimenez’s current performance is not a sudden explosion but a result of steady improvement. When he joined Feyenoord last year, he was used as a supporting option alongside fellow striker Danilo. However, Gimenez consistently scored goals whenever he came on as a substitute. Feyenoord signed him for €6 million from Cruz Azul in 2022, and after a slow start, he finished the season with 15 goals and two assists. He also impressed in the Europa League with five goals in nine games.
Gimenez’s impressive run this season includes breaking a record by scoring 13 goals in his first nine matches, a feat that hasn’t been achieved in the Eredivisie this century. He shares this achievement with Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis. Kevin Lux praised Gimenez’s all-round contribution to the team, highlighting his increased involvement in the overall attacking play and his ability to create scoring opportunities.
Given his remarkable performance, it is no surprise that Gimenez has attracted attention from top clubs in Europe. Arsenal, Inter Milan, Frankfurt, and Dortmund are among the teams rumored to be interested. Lux believes that Feyenoord can hold on to Gimenez during the winter transfer window but predicts that he will become their most expensive player ever next summer. Feyenoord’s record departures, Orkun Kökçü and Luis Sinisterra, both earned the club a €25 million base fee. However, it is speculated that the fee for Gimenez could be close to €100 million.
While the price tag may seem steep, recent transfers such as Randal Kolo Muani’s €95 million move to PSG and Bayern Munich’s €100 million+ acquisition of Harry Kane indicate that this is the going rate for prolific strikers. If Gimenez continues his exceptional scoring record, there is a high chance that he could become the Eredivisie’s first €100 million player.
In conclusion, Santiago Gimenez’s outstanding performances have positioned him as one of Europe’s hottest strikers. His goal-scoring prowess and all-round contribution to the team have attracted interest from top clubs. With a potential price tag of €100 million, Gimenez could become the most expensive Feyenoord player ever and the Eredivisie’s first €100 million player.
