Minnesota United Pursues James Rodríguez as Free Agent

Minnesota United is currently in negotiations with Colombian forward James Rodríguez regarding a potential deal to secure the high-profile free agent, according to a source who spoke to ESPN.

On Tuesday, Rodríguez hinted at a possible move to an undisclosed location by sharing a photo of himself aboard a plane, accompanied by the caption, “Here we go.”

The initial report of Minnesota’s interest in Rodríguez was published by The Athletic. The 34-year-old forward has been without a contract since December, when his agreement with Liga MX club León came to an end.

His departure from León marks a new chapter in a career characterized by frequent changes in recent years. Since a two-year loan period with Bayern Munich from 2017 to 2019, Rodríguez has had stints with several clubs, including Everton, Al Rayyan, Olympiacos, São Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, and León.

Despite his club transitions, Rodríguez continues to excel on the international stage. He was awarded the Golden Ball at the 2024 Copa America, contributing one goal and six assists, and played a pivotal role in leading Colombia to the finals, where they narrowly lost to Argentina, 1-0.

In total, Rodríguez has made 122 appearances for the Colombian national team, netting 31 goals. He is anticipated to be Colombia’s key offensive player in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Previously, Rodríguez gained international acclaim by winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where he scored six goals and provided two assists during Colombia’s impressive run to the quarterfinals.

He began his professional career in Colombia with Envigado before signing with Argentine club Banfield in 2008. Throughout his career, he has played for several prestigious clubs, including FC Porto, AS Monaco, and Real Madrid.