León decided not to extend the contract of 34-year-old Colombian international James Rodríguez due to his high salary and performance, which included 3 goals and 2 assists in 14 Liga MX Apertura appearances. Consequently, the midfielder has been exploring options outside of Mexico. He was linked with other Liga MX clubs such as Pumas and Cruz Azul, but negotiations did not advance. A potential return to São Paulo became less probable after the club's interest diminished due to its transfer policy, and an alternative in Colombia with Millonarios did not advance beyond initial inquiries.
In this context, the most prominent option is Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, as the American club reportedly views him as a significant addition to strengthen its squad and to compete for high positions in the league. The midfielder has 122 caps and 31 goals for Colombia, joined León in January 2025, and his current market value is listed by Transfermarkt as €2.50m.
