Will it fit your team? James Rodriguez will not renew his contract with Leon and is looking for a club for 2026

Colombian star James Rodríguez will not renew his contract with Leon de Mexico, it was confirmed this Wednesday, with the president of Grupo Pachuca revealing that he will look for a new club seven months before the 2026 World Cup.

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“James has completed his contract and we are grateful that he is here,” said Jesús Martínez Patiño, president of the conglomerate that owns León.

The coach praised the player, saying, “For Colombia, he is like Argentina’s Messi or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.” James played for Leon in the Mexican League and League Cup. In the Clausura 2025 tournament, the team reached the quarterfinals. At Apertura 2025, he was defeated in the regular phase.

Uniforms of teams participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

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German uniform — Photo: Disclosure

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Belgium uniform — Photo: Disclosure

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Canadian uniform — Photo: Disclosure

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Brazilian uniform — Photo: Disclosure

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Cameroon uniform — Photo: Disclosure

Check out images of the team’s main uniforms

In total, the Colombian midfielder appeared in 34 games for the club, scoring 5 goals and providing 9 assists. James, who played for Sao Paulo, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, signed with the Mexican team in January with the possibility of playing in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.

However, Leon was unable to participate in the tournament because he belonged to the same ownership group as Pachuca, which went to the United States and was eliminated from the group stage.

“We are happy that he was happy here in Mexico and wish him the best,” Martinez said.

With only seven months left until the World Cup and Colombia having already qualified, James Rodríguez will be on the market for free, waiting for offers to participate in the national team tournament with his match rhythm and good physical condition.