The most romantic transfer of the summer arrived earlier than anyone expected: Raul Jimenez is back at Wolverhampton Wanderers. For the club’s faithful, this is not merely a reunion with a former star; it is a chance to revisit a pivotal chapter of their own footballing lives.
For a whole generation, Jimenez embodied the Wolves No 9, the striker who arrived just as the team was rediscovering its identity, helping lift them from promotion to European competition, and then experiencing the heartbreak of defeat at Molineux against Europe’s elite. Now, after a period of decline, his homecoming has injected fresh optimism into a club that has struggled in recent seasons.
Since the announcement of his return, the reaction has been overwhelming. The emotional video that accompanied the signing captured the imagination of fans instantly, turning the gloom that followed relegation into a wave of excitement. Social‑media metrics illustrate the scale of the response: every one of the club’s ten most‑engaged posts since the deal was confirmed has been about Jimenez, and the most liked Instagram post in the club’s recent memory features his return. The buzz is not confined to the digital world.
In the streets, Jimenez‑branded shirts are everywhere – not just the standard Wolves kit, but specially printed tops bearing his name and the Mexican flag, even when he was absent from a pre‑season friendly against Real Sociedad. Inside the official club shop, the Jimenez jersey is outselling the previous year’s top‑selling player by more than 250 percent. It is hard to find a figure as beloved as Steve Bull from the 1990s, but unlike Bull’s era, today’s shirts carry the player’s name on the back, making the comparison even more striking.
The chant of Jimenez’s name has been a constant presence in the stadium in recent seasons, not because fans expected his return, but because he became a symbol of what the club had lost – a reminder of the heights once reached and the identity that seemed to fade after his departure. Fans often voiced their frustration with the club’s owners, Fosun, singing “You sold the team, now sell the club,” as a lament for Wolves’ decline. Yet when Fulham visited Molineux for the final home game of the previous season, the atmosphere shifted toward celebration.
It was after that match that Jimenez told a local journalist about ongoing talks to bring him back, and the sheer joy of that revelation helped sustain supporters through a painful relegation. To understand why Jimenez’s return feels so momentous, one must consider his statistical legacy. He netted 40 Premier League goals for Wolves, making him the club’s top scorer in the Premier League era.
His 27‑goal haul in the 2019/20 season remains the highest tally for a Wolves player in the top flight since "King" John Richards in 1973, and the only comparable figure in the modern era is Steve Bull’s 27 goals in the third tier back in 1989. Across all competitions, Jimenez has scored 57 goals for the club, including a memorable strike at Wembley and a semi‑final FA Cup goal against Tottenham.
His contributions in Europe are equally significant. Jimenez is the club’s record scorer in a single European campaign, finding the net twice against Crusaders in Northern Ireland, twice against Pyunik Yerevan in Armenia, and scoring both home and away against Torino and Slovan Bratislava. Fans still reminisce about his goal in the rain‑soaked match in Braga, a moment that has become part of the folklore surrounding Wolves’ continental adventures.
Tragedy struck in 2021 when a collision with David Luiz during a match against Arsenal left Jimenez with a fractured skull. The pandemic‑era silence that followed the incident added a chilling tone to an already unsettling event.
The road to recovery was long and painful, both mentally and physically. While he never quite recaptured his pre‑injury form – he has yet to score a headed goal for Wolves – the ordeal deepened his bond with the club and its supporters. Jimenez and his family have repeatedly expressed how much the outpouring of support meant to them, and that gratitude has guided their decision to return. The move is also a family affair.
Daniela, Jimenez’s partner and mother of his two children, has embraced Wolverhampton wholeheartedly, even joining the chant of "Wolves Ay We" and staging a gender‑reveal celebration for their second child on the Molineux pitch. Their first departure, after falling out of the starting XI under Julen Lopetegui, felt unsatisfying for a player of his stature; he was seen in tears as an unused substitute against Everton in May 2023, saying his goodbyes.
This second chance offers an opportunity to rewrite that ending and reaffirm his place in the emotional architecture of the club. The timing could not be better.
After a stellar World Cup performance where he scored three times in four games, optimism has returned regarding his ability to deliver. Bookmakers list him as the favourite to finish as the Championship’s top scorer, noting his flawless penalty record – he has converted every Premier League spot‑kick he has taken.
If he can stay fit, a 20‑goal season appears realistic. However, success will also depend on the service he receives. Under new manager César Peixoto, the squad’s composition and tactical approach are still evolving, leaving some uncertainty about whether the team can create enough chances for their star striker. Yet even if the on‑field results are mixed, the symbolic value of Jimenez’s homecoming is undeniable.
Steve Bull spent a decade in the second tier without ever achieving promotion, yet his legend endured through goals and memories. Jimenez, having already left a lasting imprint, now returns to write the next chapter.
In short, Wolves have reclaimed their No 9, and with him back, the club and its supporters can look forward to a renewed sense of identity, hope, and perhaps, eventually, a return to the heights they once knew.