Loons chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad started to think outside the box during a drive home from Milwaukee this winter. He had plenty of time to ponder during the five-hour commute from where he went to college.

Minnesota United held James Rodriguez’s discovery rights, which is MLS-speak for having dibs to first negotiations with a small list of players outside the league, and El-Ahmad decided to shoot his shot.

Rodriguez finished a stint with Club Leon in Mexico in November, and the captain of the Colombian men’s national team needed a club team to help him stay sharp for the FIFA World Cup in June.

El-Ahmad thought Minnesota could benefit from Rodriguez’s impressive playmaking ability, his wonderful left foot and his vast experience at the highest level in the world (Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, among others). MNUFC could capitalize on Rodriguez’s drive to perform well leading up to what is expected to be his third and final World Cup appearance.

In turn, MNUFC could provide James a clear pathway to play his No. 10 central attacking midfielder role within MLS and in a community that will appreciate the scope of his addition, but do so outside the tinderbox he would find himself in if stayed with a club in Latin America.

Essentially, the pitch was: “Come to the least-expected place,” El-Ahmad recalled to the Pioneer Press.

Rodriguez got on board.

The 34-year-old traveled to St. Paul on Thursday and signed a half-season contract with the Loons through June, when the league will go on break for the World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Minnesota United can exercise a club option on Rodriguez’s contract through the rest of MLS season in December.

Rodriguez has bounced around since leaving Real Madrid in 2020, going to Everton in England, Al-Rayyan in Qatar, Olympiacos in Greece, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Rayo Vallecano in Spain before the stint in Mexico. All told, Rodriguez has played for nine clubs, totaling 127 goals and 161 assists in 516 appearances across all competitions.

This winter, the free agent reportedly had options with clubs in Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and was linked elsewhere in MLS.

“(MNUFC) is the club that made the most progress, that showed they wanted me here, wanted me to play for them, and so it was easy,” Rodriguez said via a Spanish translation. “When a club wants you, you have to give your all for these people and try not to let them down. That’s why I have to stay focused here and train well, so that I can help.”

The Loons were able to acquire Rodriguez without using one of the high-priced Designated Player spots. MNUFC was able to sign him for a “financially responsible” salary though June, a source said, with Rodriguez able to capitalize on lucrative sponsorships via his superstar status in the soccer world.

United will have to decide if they will trigger the second half of the deal later on this spring, with up to 15 games for him to play through May. This shorter length of contract fits in line with El-Ahmad’s standard procedure for players over 30 years old, cutting down on the risk with players in the “twilight” of their careers.

The signing also comes with symbolism and helps fills a hole at the No. 10 position — central attacking midfielder —  which has been vacant since Argentine Emanuel Reynoso left the club unceremoniously in 2024.

“It’s really exciting,” El-Ahmad said. “For two years, Minnesota United has not had a No. 10 on the field and on our 10th year anniversary (in MLS), our No. 10 (jersey) will be worn by James Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez, who is primarily known as James, will need to obtain a work visa in order to be cleared to play for the Loons. The club started preseason practices a month ago and will have its first preseason friendly at the Coachella Valley Invitational on Saturday. The Loons will play two more matches in Indio, Calif., over the next week.

MLS players have six weeks of preseason training to ramp up to their first regular-season matches, and while Rodriguez has been training on his own in Colombia, time will tell how far his fitness is behind his new teammates.

The Loons’ season opener is Feb. 21 at Austin FC and home opener is Feb. 28 against FC Cincinnati.