Former Real Madrid and Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has signed as a free agent with La Liga club Rayo Vallecano.
The 33-year-old Colombian, who has been without a club since departing Brazilian side Sao Paulo this summer, joins Rayo Vallecano after an impressive performance at the Copa America in July, where he was named player of the tournament following six assists in Colombia’s run to the final.
Rayo Vallecano, currently eighth in La Liga after starting the season with a win and a draw, finished 17th last season.
Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, previously played for Real Madrid from 2014 to 2017, making 125 appearances before loan spells at Bayern Munich and a subsequent move to Everton in 2020.
After a stint at Qatari club Al Rayyan and a brief period with Olympiakos, Rodriguez joined Sao Paulo in 2023.
Rodriguez’s experience and playmaking ability are expected to bolster Rayo Vallecano’s midfield as the team seeks to build on its promising start to the season.
