James Rodríguez signs for Atlético Nacional

James Rodríguez has signed for Atlético Nacional, the Medellín club confirmed, ending a search for a new club that included a firm offer from Italy.

The 35-year-old turned down Avellino, who play in Italy's Serie B and had proposed a deal worth €1m plus a further season, weighing it against a return to Colombia's top flight. Atlético Nacional currently sit fifth in the table.

Rodríguez will wear the number 10 shirt on a deal running to the summer of 2027.

It is a return to Colombian football almost 20 years after he left Envigado, and Nacional becomes the 14th club of his career, following spells at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco, Porto, Everton and Rayo Vallecano among others. He arrives as a free agent after leaving Minnesota United in July, where he made six MLS appearances and two assists since February.

Rodríguez was named best player at the 2024 Copa América and won the Puskás Award for his goal at the 2014 World Cup. He has 131 caps for Colombia, with 31 goals and 43 assists, and there had been talk he might retire after the 2026 World Cup.

Atlético Nacional are Colombia's most decorated club and have won the Copa Libertadores twice, in 1989 and 2016. His signing follows an earlier report, from 10 September, that the move was verbally agreed.