In recent developments, it has been officially confirmed that James Rodriguez has signed a contract with Sao Paulo.
After engaging in discussions for two months, the Brazilian club made a formal offer on Thursday, which the Colombian midfielder accepted.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nathan Ake Renews Contract At Manchester City, Deal Expires 2027
James, who had been available in the transfer market since leaving Olympiacos in April, had received another offer from an MLS club but ultimately chose to play in South America.
A key factor in James’s decision to join Sao Paulo was the presence of Rafinha at the team.
Having previously played together at Bayern Munich, James and Rafinha share a close friendship, which influenced his move to the Brazilian club.
After the news spread across various Brazilian media outlets, James added fuel to the speculation by posting a photo from a plane on his social media account, accompanied by a mysterious emoji.
James Rodriguez has just signed as new São Paulo player, deal sealed after the verbal agreement reached two days ago — here we go 🔴⚪️⚫️
Official statement to follow, as reported by @venecasagrande. pic.twitter.com/qExVXI9DDY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2023
Sao Paulo fans flooded the post with numerous comments, expressing their excitement and support for the new signing.
Currently under the guidance of coach Dorival Junior, Sao Paulo currently holds the sixth position in the Brazilian championship and also participates in the Copa Sudamericana, the second most important club competition in South America after the Copa Libertadores.
In another significant transfer move, Saudi Arabian soccer club Al-Ettifaq has signed Jordan Henderson, the former captain of Liverpool.
The England international is the latest star to head to the oil-rich kingdom, joining Al-Ettifaq weeks after Steven Gerrard’s appointment as manager.
Henderson’s reported weekly wage is 700,000 pounds ($900,000), making him one of the highly-paid players in the Saudi Pro League.
Henderson’s move marks the end of his 12-year career at Liverpool, during which he lifted eight trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
His departure comes as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is overhauling the midfield, with other players like James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also leaving the club.
Liverpool has signed new players, including Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and is expected to add another midfielder ahead of the new season.
The Saudi Pro League has been attracting several high-profile players from Europe as part of an ambitious recruitment strategy to raise the profile of soccer in the country.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Women’s World Cup 2023 Live: France Vs Brazil Ongoing
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in December set the stage for other stars like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Roberto Firmino to join the league during the offseason.
The influx of top talents is aimed at bolstering the league’s competitiveness and global appeal.
