Kerala Blasters have a storied history of attracting high-profile foreign strikers to the Indian Super League (ISL), aiming to bolster their attacking prowess. From the early days of Michael Chopra in 2014 to the big-name arrival of Dimitar Berbatov in 2017-18, and more recently the contributions of Jorge Pereyra Díaz and Álvaro Vázquez in 2021-22, the club has consistently sought top-tier talent.
However, despite their efforts, many of these forwards have struggled to leave a lasting impact at the club.
Two years ago, Kerala Blasters brought in Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, who enjoyed a relatively successful spell, scoring 28 goals in 44 appearances. Yet, despite his contributions, Diamantakos departed for East Bengal before the start of the current season, leaving the Blasters with a significant gap to fill in their forward line.
After an exhaustive search across Europe and South America, Kerala Blasters have finally found a worthy replacement. The club has officially signed Spanish forward Jesús Jiménez Núñez ahead of the ISL 2024-25 season, providing a much-needed boost to their attacking options.
A source close to the development confirmed the signing to Khel Now, stating, “Jesús Jiménez is a complete forward. He’s not just a goal scorer; he can also provide crucial assists. Kerala Blasters have agreed to terms with him and have completed the signing.”
Jiménez, who began his professional career in Spain’s lower leagues, has built a reputation as a versatile and effective forward. His journey started with CF Talavera in Spain’s third tier during the 2017-18 season, where he scored 12 goals in 37 matches.
His performances earned him a move to Polish top-flight club Górnik Zabrze, where he truly made his mark. Over several seasons with Górnik, Jiménez played 134 matches, netting 43 goals and providing 25 assists. His last season with the club was in 2021-22, during which he made 21 appearances before moving to new challenges abroad.
Jiménez’s career then took him to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, where he played for Toronto FC and later FC Dallas. Despite showing flashes of his talent, his time in MLS was marked by mixed success.
Following his stint in North America, he returned to Europe, signing with Greek club OFI Crete FC. However, injuries hampered his progress, and he struggled to make a significant impact during his time in Greece.
Despite these setbacks, Jiménez’s overall career statistics are impressive. He has featured in 237 matches, scoring 66 goals and providing 31 assists. His experience across multiple leagues in Europe and North America makes him a valuable addition to Kerala Blasters, who are looking to challenge for top honours in the upcoming ISL season.
For Kerala Blasters, the signing of Jesús Jiménez represents a statement of intent. The Spanish striker brings a wealth of experience, technical ability, and a proven track record of both scoring and creating goals. His versatility will be crucial for the Blasters as they look to improve on their previous campaigns and contend for the ISL title.
