Everton have completed the signing of Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez from Real Madrid in a deal worth £20 million.
Everton have signed Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez from La Liga champions Real Madrid, the club confirmed on their official website. The 29-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Toffees, with the club retaining the option of extending it by another year.
Rodriguez came to prominence during his time with Portuguese outfit FC Porto, which earned him a big money move to AS Monaco in 2013. Only a year later, after his heroics with the Colombian national team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Real Madrid splashed the cash to snap him up from Monaco.
In his first season at the club, James worked wonders under current Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu at the time. The playmaker’s exploits led him to being named the best midfielder in La Liga for the season.
However, following the departure of Ancelotti, the Colombian international fell down the pecking order under the likes of Rafael Benitez and Zinedine Zidane, before reuniting with Ancelotti at Bayern Munich in 2017, having joined a two-year loan deal.
? | James Rodriguez and Carlo Ancelotti: reunited once again.
UTT! ?
— Everton (@Everton) September 7, 2020
James’ time in Germany was a mixed bag, and having returned to Madrid last summer, the Colombian struggled to make his way back into Zidane’s plans. Indeed, he featured just 14 times in all competitions in 2019/20, scoring one goal and setting up a couple more.
However, it is time for a new chapter for James now as he is set for a third stint alongside Ancelotti. The 29-year-old has joined Everton, in a deal worth £20 million, as reported by BBC.
Upon the confirmation of the transfer, James said: “I am really, really happy to be at this great club, a club with so much history, and here with a manager who knows me really well. I’m looking forward to achieving great things here – and winning things, which is what everyone’s aim is. I’ve also come here to help the team to win, to play good football – entertaining football.”
Prior to James’ signing Everton had confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Allan from Napoli, while they are also primed to sign Abdoulaye Doucoure from Watford, with an agreement already in place.
The move comes as a win-win for all parties involved. James gets a chance to resurrect his career under a manager who has gotten the best out of him in the past. Everton get a bonafide star, who can turn around the club’s fortunes, while Real Madrid have made decent money for a player who wasn’t in their plans and was in the final year of his contract.
