Santiago Gimenez has completed a season-long loan move from AC Milan to FC Porto, with the Portuguese club holding an option to sign the Mexico international permanently for €18m plus bonuses.
The loan itself does not include a fee. However, the purchase clause could become mandatory if certain objectives are met, particularly those linked to the 25-year-old’s playing time.
Gimenez joined AC Milan from Feyenoord in January 2025 but struggled to establish himself with the Italian club. He scored seven goals in 37 appearances for the Rossoneri before moving to Portugal.
The striker said FC Porto’s collective spirit had made a strong impression on him after speaking to the club’s media team.
“The team spirit is something that impresses me a lot. I have a motto: always play with the flame burning. That's how I see FC Porto,” Gimenez told club media.
“Like a family, like a team that always trains and plays with the flame burning. In my first conversations with former teammates who play here at FC Porto, they all said the team is a family and that people want players to give everything on the pitch, not just score goals.”
At FC Porto, Gimenez will compete for a place with Turkish forward Deniz Gul and Andre Silva, the former AC Milan striker who has returned to the Portuguese club after a decade away.
The Mexican forward said he was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
“I want to give my life for FC Porto, I will leave everything on the pitch, and I want to take advantage of this great opportunity I am having,” the striker continued.
Gimenez attracted attention from several leading European clubs during a prolific spell at Feyenoord. He scored 65 goals in 105 appearances for the Dutch side and became a popular figure among its supporters.
The draw for this season’s UEFA Champions League has given him an early chance to return to Rotterdam, with FC Porto paired against Feyenoord.
“I hold Feyenoord close to my heart because it was a club that brought out the best version of me. I improved in the necessary areas to grow as a player and as a person,” Gimenez said about his former club.
“It was my first experience away from my family; I only went to Rotterdam with my wife, and we had wonderful moments. I started scoring goals and connecting with the fans, who now have a lot of affection for me. In the Champions League, I will have the opportunity to return.”
During his time in the Netherlands, Gimenez became Mexico’s leading goalscorer in the country’s football history, surpassing the previous record of 44 goals held by Hirving Lozano.
“It was very important to achieve this status. I grew a lot as a player; I only had football and Feyenoord on my mind, that's all that mattered. We were a big family, and I always felt a special affection from the fans, which led me to give everything on the field and score even more goals. A player never thinks about records; they simply appear. Fortunately, I managed to score many goals in the Netherlands, and these historical milestones emerged.”
Gimenez has won 51 caps for Mexico. He was included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup and played in four matches without scoring.