James Rodriguez joins Al Rayyan as confirmed by the Qatari club this afternoon.
The 30-year-old midfielder joined Everton in the summer of 2020 hoping to make a big impact but it has not quite gone to plan.
It’s been clear since Rafa Benitez replaced Carlo Ancelotti that Rodriguez’s future would be in doubt.
Former Real Madrid Midfielder James Rodriguez Joins Al Rayyan
Done ✅
hecho ✅@jamesdrodriguez pic.twitter.com/uqV4hcW92R— AlRayyanSC (@AlrayyanSC) September 22, 2021
James Rodriguez Leaves European Football After Stellar Career
Rodriguez has been fortunate enough to represent a pair of European giants in Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. He has enjoyed a stellar career in Europe, lifting the Champions League on two occasions.
The Colombian started his European journey with Porto in 2010. He impressed in Portugal, scoring 32 goals in 108 appearances with 41 assists in addition to that.
Following a stint in France with Monaco, a club that made business out of buying talented players relatively cheaply and selling them on for larger fees, he impressed at the 2014 World Cup, enough to attract the attention of Spanish giants Real Madrid.
After joining Real Madrid, throughout his spell there, despite a two-year loan in Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, he scored 37 goals and assisted 42 in 125 appearances.
In two years at Bayern Munich, Rodriguez made 67 appearances, playing a hand in 35 goals (15 goals, 20 assists).
He was long linked with Manchester United, as are many players of his level, but eventually made the switch to Premier League football, surprisingly joining Carlo Ancelotti at Everton in 2020.
He made an impact early on with three goals and three assists in his opening five Premier League games but failed to maintain that sort of form, not helped by injuries either.
In 2021/22, he has not played a competitive game for The Toffees, focusing on securing a move away from the club, which has now been secured as Rodriguez joins Al Rayyan.
A proposed return to Porto collapsed in the final days of the transfer window.
Rodriguez Joins Al Rayyan for an Undisclosed Fee
In a short statement, Everton have confirmed Rodriguez has departed for an undisclosed fee.
Rodriguez has made 80 appearances for Colombia, scoring 23 goals. He will now embark on a new challenge in the Middle East.
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