James Rodriguez becomes unemployed again as Colombia legend, 33, is released on sixth free transfer in six years
JAMES RODRIGUEZ has become unemployed for the sixth year in a row and is reportedly considering a return to the Premier League.
The 33-year-old is available as a free agent after his contract at LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano was mutually terminated.
He moved to Rayo in August but has been restricted to just seven appearances in all competitions.
Rodriguez had signed a one-year deal with Rayo, who sit 12th in the Spanish top-flight, with the option of a further 12 months.
There are both economic and sporting reasons for the former Real Madrid man’s early departure, according to The Athletic.
The Colombia international joined Rayo off the back of winning the Golden Ball at the 2024 Copa America.
He produced six assists to help fire Colombia to the final, only for he and his team-mates to suffer heartbreak with a 1-0 defeat to Argentina.
However, Rodriguez has featured just six times in LaLiga this season and predominantly as a substitute.
And the former World Cup breakthrough star has not played in the league since a 13-minute cameo against Las Palmas on November 8.
Rodriguez moved to Rayo on a free transfer in the summer after leaving Sao Paulo one season into a two-year contract.
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The former Bayern Munich forward has had spells at Everton, Olympiacos and Al-Rayyan since leaving the Bernabeu in 2020.
He joined the Toffees in 2020 to reunite with his former Madrid and Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Rodriguez became a favourite at Goodison Park, before being frozen out by Ancelotti’s unpopular successor Rafael Benitez.
He starred 26 times for the Toffees, scoring six goals and laying on eight assists, but they could only finish 10th.
And a return to Premier League action is not off the table, according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo.
The report cites Aston Villa, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest as all being interested in the Colombian.
It was at the 2014 World Cup when Rodriguez burst on to the scene as one of the hottest properties in football.
But amid offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, he opted to join Real Madrid after lighting up the tournament in Brazil.
Rodriguez went on to win two LaLiga titles and a pair of Champions Leagues with Madrid.
He then spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich between 2017 and 2019, adding a pair of Bundesliga titles to his trophy collection.
He returned to Real Madrid for the 2019-20 campaign, before joining Everton on a free in September 2020.
He captains Colombia and has been capped 112 times at international level, scoring 29 goals.