Staff Reporter.
Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez has completed a move from Everton to Qatari side Al Rayyan for an undisclosed fee.
The 30-year-old leaves Goodison Park 12 months after joining the Toffees.
Having signed from Real Madrid, Rodriguez scored six goals in 26 appearances in all competitions for Everton last season, but did not play for Rafael Benitez’s side during the current campaign.
His last game for the club came in a 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United on 16 May.
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مرحبًا @jamesdrodriguez pic.twitter.com/Als0VqEqxD— AlRayyanSC (@AlrayyanSC) September 22, 2021
He said in April that he only joined Everton so he could be reunited with Carlo Ancelotti, who had signed him for Madrid in 2014 and Bayern in 2017.
Everton had the option of extending his contract at the end of the season if he were to make enough first team appearances, but sources told ESPN that the club were keen to to move his £10 million-a-year salary off the club’s wage bill.
Rodriguez has 80 international caps for Colombia, scoring 23 goals, and played in two World Cup, notably winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.