James Rodríguez Joins Atlético Nacional, Returns to Colombian League After 17 Years

Colombian club Atlético Nacional announced the free transfer signing of football star James Rodríguez, marking his return to his home country. This move signifies Rodríguez's first time playing for a Colombian club since his early departure 17 years ago. The 35-year-old James Rodríguez signed a contract until June 30, 2027, following his recent stint with American club Minnesota United. This marks his 14th professional club experience, having played for teams across 12 nations. His career began with his departure from Colombia in 2008, at age 16, to join Argentina's Banfield. After Banfield, Rodríguez moved to Europe, representing clubs like Portugal's Porto and France's Monaco. He gained global attention during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, delivering an exceptional performance for the Colombian national team. He scored six goals, earning the Golden Boot as top scorer, highlighted by his famous goal against Uruguay. Following this, he transferred to Real Madrid in Spain for 75 million euros. Despite not consistently maintaining that level at subsequent clubs, James remains a prominent figure in Colombian football history, enjoying immense popular appeal. He has secured 25 titles with represented clubs and earned 131 international caps for the Colombian national team.