James Rodriguez signs for new club and is unveiled in BIZARRE announcement video just a week after leaving Rayo Vallecano - having 'demanded 14 BODYGUARDS, a house, and "better players"'
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James Rodriguez's nomadic career will continue in Mexico after the Colombian put pen to paper on a reported one-year deal with Club Leon. The club confirmed the move with an announcement video in which Rodriguez, 33, plays the role of a Roman gladiator who wins the approval of the crowd and the emperor with a chest-and-volley combination.
![[He played a Roman gladiator in his announcement video, impressing the emperor with a volley]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/00/94059735-14280855-He_played_a_Roman_gladiator_in_his_announcement_video_impressing-a-92_1736815366377.jpg)
It comes just a week after his contract with LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano was terminated following seven appearances all season. Leon have paid the Madrid-based club a symbolic fee of £0.84million, as per The Athletic. Leon are the 12th club of his career, in an 11th country. In 2023 they won the CONCACAF Champions Cup, North America's equivalent of the Champions League.
![[Rodriguez joined Real Madrid for £62million in the wake of his stunning 2014 World Cup]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/00/87610177-14280855-Rodriguez_joined_Real_Madrid_for_62million_in_the_wake_of_his_st-a-94_1736815478896.jpg)
Over the summer he will find himself playing against Chelsea in Atlanta, USA in the Club World Cup. According to MARCA, Rodriguez demanded 14 bodyguards and a house to sweeten the deal, as well as the promise to sign 'better players' - something his new team-mates might not want to hear.
![[The Colombian spent a season playing at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti in 2020-21]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/00/94059917-14280855-image-a-99_1736815531936.jpg)
James Rodriguez has signed for Mexican side Club Leon on a reported £5million salary. He played a Roman gladiator in his announcement video, impressing the emperor with a volley. 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐒 "𝐗"@jamesdrodriguez 🦁 pic.twitter.com/o98EwyTMsb.
![[He left Al-Rayyan in 2022 after admitting he felt 'afraid' and struggled to adapt to life in Qatar]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/00/87610175-14280855-He_left_Al_Rayyan_in_2022_after_admitting_he_felt_afraid_and_str-a-98_1736815529571.jpg)
The outlet also claims he is in line to bank almost £5m over the course of his contract. He had initially looked like he could head to Junior de Barranquilla in his homeland but they were reportedly unwilling to meet these demands. Rodriguez has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but struggled to nail down regular minutes and produce his form for Colombia in the club game.
![[He ended his time with Brazilian giants Sao Paulo after only 12 months in 2024]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/00/87610171-14280855-James_Rodriguez_has_reportedly_ended_his_time_with_Sao_Paulo_aft-a-93_1736815444202.jpg)
