James Rodriguez is coming to Major League Soccer.
The Athletic’s Tom Bogert and Felipe Cardenas report the 34-year-old Colombia midfielder is finalizing a short-term arrangement with Minnesota United.
The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich man would not be a Designated Player and only be under contract through the World Cup with an option to extend the deal through the remainder of the season.
Rodriguez has been without a club since his contract with Mexican side Leon expired at the end of 2025.
Making his pro debut at 15 with Colombian side Envigado in 2006, Rodriguez spent three seasons at Argentine club Banfield before making the leap to Europe with Porto in 2010. Rodriguez won the Primeira Liga, Taca de Portugal and the Europa League title at the end of his first season.
After three seasons in Portugal, Rodriguez signed with Monaco in a €45 million move. His time in Ligue 1 was short-lived, however, as a breakout performance in the 2014 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot and led Colombia to a quarter-finals appearance, propelled Rodriguez to the status of one of European football’s most sought-after young players. He would go on to sign for Real in a £63 million move only days after the World Cup ended.
During his four-year stint at the Bernabeu where Rodriguez eventually fell out of favour with manager Zinedine Zindane, he won two La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns. Rodriguez then spent two seasons on loan at Bayern where he won the Bundesliga in both years and a DFB-Pokal in 2019.
Rodriguez has been well traveled in recent years with stints at Everton, Qatari side Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, Sao Paulo, Rayo Vallecano and Leon.
Internationally, Rodriguez is Colombia’s second-most capped player with 122, trailing only former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina’s 131. His 31 goals are two behind Radamel Falcao for most in Los Cafateros history.
The Loons are set to open up there 2026 campaign under new manager Cameron Knowles on Feb. 21 away to Austin FC.
