Colombian international James Rodriguez will not continue with Leon of Liga MX, as confirmed to the press this Tuesday by Jesus Martinez, president of Grupo Pachuca, the club that owns the South American footballer's team.

“His contract ended. We thank him for being here. He is a historic player; for Colombia, he is like Messi in Argentina or Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal. We are happy because he was happy in Mexico, and we wish him all the best,” said Martinez at a press conference hours before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Pachuca.

James arrived at Leon at the beginning of this year, excited about playing in the Club World Cup, but the team was excluded from the competition, which lowered the midfielder's motivation. He started 10 games in the Apertura 2025 tournament, scoring three goals.

In 30 league matches, the Colombian scored five goals and had little impact, especially in the current Apertura tournament, in which Leon was eliminated.

At 34 years old, the former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton player, among other teams, aims to play in the 2026 World Cup with his country, which will require him to be active; for now, he will remain a free agent, allowing him to sign with any team.

James was one of the biggest signings in Mexican soccer this year, in which several world-class figures signed with clubs in the country, including Spaniard Sergio Ramos, leader of the Rayados de Monterrey defense, and Argentine World Cup champion Angel Correa, of Tigres UANL.

Ramos and Correa will be fundamental for their teams in the quarterfinals of the Apertura tournament, in which Rayados will face America and Tigres will face an opponent yet to be determined; however, Leon did not qualify for the next phase of the tournament, so James has already finished his participation with the team.