Colombian star midfielder James Rodriguez was en route to Minnesota on Thursday to finalize a contract with the Loons, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press.
If the deal is completed and approved by MLS, the 34-year-old attacking midfielder will join Minnesota United on a short-term contract. The exact length is not yet known, but it is presumably through at least the mid-summer FIFA World Cup break.
Rodriguez will not be one of the club’s Designated Players, the source said, but still will likely command a large salary. The Loons do not need to pay a transfer fee to another club for Rodriguez’s rights because he is currently a free agent.
Rodriguez would become the Loons’ most-recognizable player across the club’s 10 season in MLS. He has has played for two of the biggest clubs in the world — Real Madrid and Bayern Munich — and has been part of a UEFA Champions League winner. He was the leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Rodriguez needs a club team after his stint with Club Leon in Mexico’s Liga MX ended in late 2025, with his goal to be a top player for Colombia in the upcoming World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He hasn’t played club soccer since Nov. 8.
The Loons can put Rodriguez into the the middle of its attack once he is fit, with Joaquín Pereyra alongside him and Kelvin Yeboah as a forward. It’s unclear how close Rodriguez is to being ready to play in matches.
MNUFC’s regular season starts in just over two weeks. The Loons have three preseason friendlies at the Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, Calif, starting Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, followed by D.C. United on Wednesday and Charlotte FC on Feb. 14.
United’s season opener is Feb. 21 at Austin FC and the home opener at Allianz Field is Feb. 28 vs. FC Cincinnati.
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