As European football leagues kick off this weekend, there are several standout players you should keep an eye on.
In previous years, the likes of Edson Álvarez and Raúl Jimenez have been waving the flag in the Premier League whilst Santiago Giménez and Hirving Lozano have been playing their trade in the Netherlands.
Honourable mentions that do not feature in this list include the Mexico Copa América defensive partnership of Johan Vásquez (Genoa, Serie A) and César Montes (Almería, La Liga). The pair were two of the positives for Mexico this summer and have been linked with moves away from their respective clubs, but are expected to have standout seasons.
5. Rodrigo Huescas, FC Copenhagen
🇲🇽🇩🇰 Rodrigo Huescas in his first 3 weeks with FC Copenhagen:
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) July 31, 2024
✅ 5 starts in a row
✅ 1 assist
✅ 1 Man of the Match
✅ 1 appearance in the Team of the Week
✅ 1 appearance in the Team of the Month
So far so good. 📈🔥 pic.twitter.com/TnvaUsyTwP
The 20-year-old right-back signed for Danish side FC Copenhagen for $2 million from Cruz Azul earlier this summer. After losing the Clausura final against Club América, the defender earned high praise, attracting attention from Europe. Since joining, he has slotted into the starting XI with the side sitting top of the Danish Superliga whilst on course to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
4. Álex Padilla, Athletic Club de Bilbao
A 20-year-old goalkeeper who recently made the switch from playing for the Spanish U-19 squad in favour of the Mexican U-23 team. He was born in the north Spanish town of Zarautz, Guipúzcoa, but is eligible to represent El Trí through the nationality of his mother, he also spent the first seven years of his life living in Camargo, Chihuahua. Padilla is expected to play second-fiddle to first-choice Unai Simon, who has just come off a Euro 2024 winning summer, but whilst he is finishing his vacations, Padilla has been tipped to earn some first-team minutes for the Basque side.
3. Santiago Giménez, Feyenoord
El Bebote is heading into his third campaign with the Rotterdam club after 45 goals across his last two seasons. The striker was heavily linked with moves to big European clubs but after failing to register a goal at the Copa América, interest died off. However, Giménez has returned to form in the Netherlands, scoring two penalties against PSV Eindhoven to lift the Dutch Super Cup. Along with his attempts to win a second Eredivisie title, the 23-year-old also has another chance in the UEFA Champions League, where he will be hoping to impress.
2. Júlian Araujo, AFC Bournemouth
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 13, 2024
Araujo has announced his permanent departure from Barcelona to join AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Mexicans Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and Javier Hernández, who have also made their mark in the league. After a successful loan spell at Las Palmas, the young defender was expected to feature for Barcelona this summer. However, a €10 million bid from Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth altered those plans. Bournemouth finished last season in an impressive 12th place, and despite the departure of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham, there are high expectations for the team to build on their success this season, with Araujo likely to play a key role. The 23-year-old opted to represent El Trí over the United States (the country of his birth), and he was part of the 2023 Gold Cup-winning squad but fell out of favour with Jaime Lozano, ultimately missing out on a place in Mexico's Copa América squad this summer. A good run of form in the Premier League will put the defender in good stead to return to the national team under new manager Javier Aguirre.
1. Edson Álvarez, West Ham United
Returning for a second season with West Ham, Edson Álvarez was a standout player for the team last season. After his move from Ajax in the Dutch capital, the holding midfielder demonstrated his ability to compete with the Premier League's best. Since joining the London club, Álvarez has been named the new captain of Mexico, succeeding Guillermo Ochoa. However, Mexican fans were concerned when Álvarez suffered a hamstring injury in the opening game of the Copa América against Jamaica, forcing him to miss the rest of the tournament as Mexico exited during the group stages. Despite the setback, the injury provided the defensive midfielder with time to prepare for the upcoming Premier League season. West Ham, aiming to improve on last season's 9th-place finish, has bolstered their squad with new signings such as Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United and Niclas Füllkrug from UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund. Álvarez will be a key figure under new manager Julen Lopetegui as the club looks to build on their top-half finish.
Which players are you most excited about this season across Europe, let us know!