Aggie Mexican soccer starlet Jimena Lopez heads to Spain

The young career Jimena Lopez has had has been nothing short of exceptional. Her time in College Station, Texas, led to some of Texas A&M soccer’s most successful seasons.

From her freshman year, Lopez proved to be a staple for the Aggies. Starting out on the left wing, the Mexican national team member tormented defenders with her ability to dribble past players with ease.

She displayed an ability to whip in crosses with lethal precision. As Jimena Lopez was becoming one of the best collegiate players in the country, she also became a leader for the Aggies.

Lopez was given the captain’s armband for her junior and senior years. In 2020 Jimena made 10 starts and played every minute of the SEC regular season in her new role at the left back position. Despite being put in a more defensive role she showcased her ability to remain as a constant attacking threat and became one of the league’s best defenders.

Lopez’s dominance on the field helped her garner numerous honors. She was SEC Midfielder of the Year in 2019 when she led the league in assists, SEC Co-Defender of the Year in 2020. Lopez also made two appearances on the All-SEC First Team.

Despite her numerous accomplishments during her time at Texas A&M, Jimena saved her best for last, captaining the side that would become the 2020 SEC Champions. 

Lopez was a fixture with El Tri

Lopez’s talents were not exclusive to College Station. She received multiple call-ups to the Mexican national youth teams, winning a bronze medal in the Youth Olympic games in 2015.

The Texas A&M star featured in the U-17 World Cup in 2016 and the U-20 World Cup in 2020. She continued to have success on the international stage, eventually making seven appearances for Mexico’s senior national team during the 2020 World Cup Qualifiers and the 2020 Cyprus Women’s Cup. 

She signed a contract on Tuesday with SD Eibar in the top tier of Spanish women’s football. Lopez will now face some of the world’s best clubs, including FC Barcelona and Real Madrid FC. 

^{Photo By Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics}