Copy the vmdk to the ESXi server any way you find easiest
You will need to enable SSH (do this on the console of the ESXi server)
SSH to the ESXi server
The navigate to the datastore (in vmimages)
then run the command “vmkfstools -i
Once you do this you will be able to import the server into the console using the new imported disk as the primary disk in place of the old disk.