Raul Jimenez is heading back to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Mexican striker signed a two-year contract with an option for a third season, joining on a free transfer. The move brings a familiar face back to Molineux and gives the club room to spend elsewhere.
Why the deal works for both sides
Jimenez, 33, left Wolves at the end of last season after his previous contract expired. He spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Fulham and didn't get a new deal there. Wolves, meanwhile, have been careful with spending. Bringing him back without a transfer fee means the club can put money into other positions. The 2+1 structure also limits risk: if Jimenez struggles with form or fitness, Wolves can walk away after two years.
A familiar leader in the attack
Jimenez was a key figure during Wolves’ rise from the Championship to European competition. He scored 57 goals in 164 appearances across his first four seasons, but a fractured skull in 2020 sidelined him for months. He returned to play but never quite recaptured his sharpest form. Still, his experience and work rate give manager Gary O’Neil a reliable option up front. The club’s younger forwards—Matheus Cunha and Sasa Kalajdzic—have dealt with injuries, so having a proven Premier League scorer helps.
Wolves have sold key players in recent windows—Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Conor Coady all left—and reinvested some of that money. The Jimenez move is a low-cost addition that doesn’t block minutes for developing players. It also lets the club target a midfielder or defender in the January window without blowing the budget. Wolves finished 14th last season and want to push higher.
Jimenez is expected to join preseason training in July. The club hasn’t announced his squad number yet. His return gives fans a leader they know, and it gives O’Neil a striker who doesn’t need time to adjust to the system.
