James Rodriguez Signs with Rayo Vallecano After Stint in Brazil

Former Real Madrid and Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has signed with La Liga club Rayo Vallecano as a free agent. The 33-year-old Colombian has been without a club since leaving Brazilian side Sao Paulo earlier this summer.

Rodriguez, who was recently named player of the tournament at the Copa America after delivering six assists in Colombia's journey to the final, will bring a wealth of experience to Rayo Vallecano. The Colombian side finished eighth in La Liga last season, with a solid start to the current campaign that includes a win and a draw.

Rodriguez gained prominence by winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, which led to his move to Real Madrid that same summer. Over his five-year tenure with the Spanish giants, he made 125 appearances. Following his time at Madrid, Rodriguez spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich before joining Everton in 2020. His stint with the Toffees saw him feature 26 times before he moved to Qatari club Al Rayyan. He later joined Olympiakos and Sao Paulo before his latest move to Rayo Vallecano.

With Rayo Vallecano aiming to build on their strong start this season, Rodriguez’s experience and creativity are expected to be key assets for the team as they look to improve on last year’s 17th-place finish.