Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez has completed a move to Mexican club Leon, ending his brief and unsuccessful spell with Rayo Vallecano in Spain. The 33-year-old has terminated his contract with Rayo by mutual consent, forgoing his remaining salary for the season.
Rayo Vallecano announced Rodriguez’s departure in a brief statement: “Rayo Vallecano and Club Leon of Mexico have reached an agreement for the transfer of James Rodriguez. The club wishes James the best of luck in his new chapter.”
Rodriguez’s signing with Rayo last summer was considered a major coup, but the move failed to live up to expectations. The former Real Madrid star made just seven appearances totaling 205 minutes for Rayo. Manager Inigo Perez struggled to fit Rodriguez into the team’s counter-attacking style of play.
The Colombian’s lack of playing time at Rayo had become a concern for his national team. While Rodriguez remains a starter for Colombia, his club situation was seen as detrimental to his international form.
Rodriguez’s decision to join Leon rather than return to Colombia has been met with disappointment in his home country. He reportedly turned down an offer from Junior Barranquilla to move to Mexico instead. Colombian media have been critical of the choice, with one pundit stating, “There’s a lot of frustration in Colombia. Everyone wanted the captain to come back.”
The talented playmaker will now look to revive his career in Liga MX as he joins Leon for the upcoming Clausura tournament. At 33, Rodriguez still hopes to prove he can be an impactful player at both the club and international level.
Aditya Kapur