James Rodríguez completes move to Minnesota United – Seventh club since 2020

Former Real and Bayern star 

Minnesota United have this Friday completed the signing of former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodríguez. James has been a free agent since he left Club León in December. The Liga MX club signed the 34-year-old playmaker on a free transfer from Rayo Vallecano in January 2025. James managed five goals and nine assists in 34 games across all competitions for Léon. Léon signed James for the FIFA Club World Cup, but the Liga MX club was banned from the competition due to multiple-club ownership ties.

Club Léon was just the latest chapter in James’ colorful club career. After playing for European giants Real Madrid and Bayern, James bounced around several clubs, turning out for Everton, Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, São Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, and León. Minnesota United have become the seventh club since 2020. But since graduating from the Banfield academy, James has remained prolific, scoring 127 goals and 161 assists in 516 club games. Although his market value has dropped to just €2m, at his peak the Colombian reached a market value evaluation of €80m twice—in 2015 at Real Madrid and in 2018 at Bayern—making him the player with the highest historical market value in Minnesota United history.

In a Minnesota club statement, James said: “I’m very happy for this new chapter in my life. I hope to be at my best so I can bring joy to this city and to all of the people who are putting their faith in me. I’m looking forward to meeting all of the passionate Minnesota fans because I’m also a passionate player who wants to give everything on the field and always wants to win.”

“James is a player whose quality, vision, and experience at the highest levels of the game are unquestioned. We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group. At the same time, this move is about collective strength — not about putting everything on one individual,” said MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad. “We believe that within our structure, culture, James can add an important dimension to the team. Our focus is on integrating him the right way and ensuring he contributes in a way that elevates the group. We’re confident that, together, we can create something impactful for our community, club and our fans.”

James to Minnesota United: Remains crucial for Colombia

Although he has at times lacked consistency for his club teams in recent years, James has remained tremendous for Colombia. James was crucial for Colombia as he led his country to the 2024 Copa América final, where they lost narrowly to Lionel Messi’s Argentina (5-4 on pens). Overall, James has scored 31 goals in 122 games for Colombia and remains his country’s biggest star. That last part isn’t a factor that should be underestimated. James’ star power alone could make the midfielder a worthy investment for the Loons.

He shone most for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup, where he scored six goals in five games as Colombia reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to hosts Brazil. That included a sublime volley in the round of 16 win against fellow South American nations Uruguay and eventually would earn him his move to the stardom of Real Madrid. With his move to MLS complete, the question remains what sort of player are we going to get North America. At his best, James is a spectacular player who makes everyone around him better. That excellence was there in flashes for Bayern Munich and consistently for Colombia.

While he was brilliant at times for Bayern, he also did complain about the winter in Germany. “It’s tough because of the cold, which was very hard for me,” James said on the Daniel Habif podcast at the time. There were days when I would go to work at 9 in the morning, start my car, and look at the temperature: -28 degrees. I would ask myself, ‘What am I doing here in this cold?’” Will those complaints resurface now that he plays in one of America’s coldest states? And how will his playing style adapt to MLS? Time will tell.