'I’ve made it clear, I want to stay in Europe' - Fulham's Raúl Jiménez addresses Liga MX, MLS transfer rumors

Raúl Jiménez is determined to leave his mark on the global stage with the Mexican national team, and he knows the 2026 FIFA World Cup - hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada - could be his last real chance to do so. At 34, the striker remains focused on staying at the highest level of competition, which he believes is essential to earning a spot and making an impact.

Nicknamed El Lobo de Tepeji, he is fully aware that his previous World Cup performances have fallen short. In Brazil 2014, he played just six minutes. Four years later in Russia, he featured for only 54 minutes across four matches - playing in just two of them. Then in Qatar 2022, physical setbacks limited him again to just 56 minutes in three appearances, with no goals scored in any of the three tournaments. That’s why he sees 2026 as his moment to finally shine on football’s biggest stage.

Currently at Fulham in the Premier League, Jiménez continues to prove his value in one of the world’s most competitive leagues. And despite being in the latter stage of his career, he’s clear about one thing: his priority is to stay in Europe.

In an interview with TUDN, Jiménez revealed that clubs from Liga MX, MLS, and even Saudi Arabia have shown strong interest in him—but he’s turned those offers down.

"I’ve had conversations with clubs from Mexico, MLS, and Saudi Arabia. There’s been contact, but I’ve made it clear: I want to stay in Europe once my contract ends this summer," said Jiménez. "I’m not considering a return to Mexico, MLS, or going to Saudi Arabia at the moment. It might happen in the future, but right now, that’s not my plan. As long as I can stay at the highest level, that’s what I’ll pursue—because that helps both my club and the national team."

Jiménez’s contract with Fulham expires at the end of the season, and it remains uncertain whether the Premier League club will offer a renewal or if he’ll seek a new challenge elsewhere in Europe.

Jiménez is on the verge of making history with the Mexican national team. The former Club América striker has scored 40 goals for El Tri and now sits just six goals behind Jared Borgetti and 12 behind all-time top scorer Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.

Despite being 34, Jiménez’s outlook for 2024 is promising. With a packed schedule of friendlies in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, and the upcoming Gold Cup this summer, he has plenty of opportunities to close the gap or even surpass Chicharito before the end of the year. His recent form in the Nations League Finals, where he scored four goals, suggests he's still got what it takes.

That’s exactly why El Lobo is determined to remain in the Premier League, even though his contract with Fulham expires this summer. His goal is clear: to stay at the top level and make 2026 a year full of goals and glory.

The Mexican striker also emphasized how much the Premier League has helped him evolve as a player, pointing out the league’s intensity from top to bottom.

"What makes this league so tough is that every game is demanding. There’s no easy weekend where you can relax," he explained. "This season we beat Liverpool 3–2, and then we lost to one of the teams at the bottom of the table. That’s what this league is about—any team can beat anyone."

"It’s a demanding, highly competitive league that constantly pushes you to perform. I’m capable of meeting that challenge and becoming that kind of player. At this stage of my career, I’m more mature, and that helps me enjoy football in a different way and understand it better," Jiménez added.

The Mexican striker is currently on a seven-match goal drought in the Premier League. Despite that, his overall numbers this season haven’t been bad—he’s scored 10 goals in 31 appearances. Still, Jiménez knows that as a forward, goals define his future, and returning to the scoresheet quickly is key if he hopes to earn a contract extension.

Fulham will host Everton this Saturday on Matchday 36 of the Premier League. The Cottagers currently sit 11th in the table with 51 points.