Barcelona’s all-time record goal scorer Jenni Hermoso has departed the club to sign for Mexican outfit Pachuca.

Hermoso has spent seven years at Barcelona across two separate spells, winning five Primera Division titles, four Copa de la Reina titles, two Supercopa Femenina titles and enjoying a famous Champions League triumph in 2021.

She is the third member of Barcelona’s Champions League winning squad to exit the club this summer, following the departure of Lieke Martens to PSG and Lea Ouahabi to Manchester City.

„To have won everything with this jersey is something that I will take with me forever,“ Hermoso wrote on Instagram.

„To play in a sold-out stadium, to celebrate a goal at the Camp Nou and to raise high our first Champions League… I really felt Barça as my home.

„Everything comes and sometimes it ends. I am very proud of having given everything I could with this shirt, I still have a lot to live, to enjoy and now it’s time for new adventures that fills me and make me feel truly valued.“

The forward netted a club record 181 goals during her time in Catalonia, while her 45 goals for Spain also make her the national team’s all-time top scorer. However, she will not feature at Euro 2022 this summer after suffering a knee injury.

The signing is a huge statement for Pachuca and Liga MX Femenil – the Mexican top flight. The division was only founded in December 2016, by which time Hermoso had already won three Primera Division titles and scored 15 goals for Spain.

Hermoso has been ruled out of the Euro 2022 after sustaining ligament damage in her right knee and is also expected to miss the start of the Liga MX Femenil season, which kicks off on July 12.

But her choice to join underlines the league’s sudden growth in the last five years. Pachuca, alongside Tigres Femenil, Club America and Monterrey Rayadas, has pledged to make Liga MX Femenil one of the most competitive around, and continue to live up the promises with new signings.

Tigres has brought in Nigeria striker Uchenna Kanu and former Canadian international Carmelina Moscato as their head coach, while Rayadas boast Christina Burkenroad and Desirée Monsiváis.