‘Here we go’: 32-year-old is now set for free transfer to Brazil, he was earning £250k-a-week at Everton two years ago

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James Rodriguez is set to join Brazilian side Sao Paulo on a free transfer.

The former Everton midfielder is on his way to South America after reaching a verbal agreement with the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.

James burst onto the scene when he won the World Cup Golden Boot in 2014, before earning himself a £63 million move to Real Madrid.

After spending six years in Spain, including an underwhelming loan spell with Bayern Munich, the midfielder looked to reignite his career with a shock move to Everton in 2020.

The Colombian reunited with Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park as he joined on a two-year deal and was said to be earning a whopping £250,000 a week during his time on Merseyside.

James bagged ten goal contributions in his one and only season with the Toffees but failed to make another appearance for the club after Ancelotti’s return to Real Madrid, before he jetted off to Saudi Arabia.

After spending the last two years with Al-Rayyan and Greek club Olympiacos, James will now return to South America with Sao Paulo where he will link up with the likes of Alexandre Pato and Rafinha.

James Rodriguez and Everton didn’t work without Carlo Ancelotti

James Rodriguez looked to be an unbelievable signing for Everton and his six-goal return wasn’t too shabby either. However, it always seemed like it could end in tears.

Carlo Ancelotti’s sudden exit left James out in the cold, with Rafa Benitez seeing no use for him. With the Colombian raking in the most of any Toffees player, he became a huge waste of money and most likely thought he was better than sitting on the bench at Goodison Park.

It came as no surprise that his departure ended up being a bitter one, but perhaps things could have turned out different if Ancelotti had stayed. But that probably would have been the case with everything that has happened at Everton since he left.