Rodolfo Cota has a new home.
The goalkeeper was announced Wednesday as the newest member of Club Leon. Cota, 30, spent the last six tournaments on loan to Chivas from Pachuca, helping Los Rojiblancos to a pair of Copa MX titles, the 2017 Clausura title and the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League crown.
Despite the accolades, Chivas fans knew he wasn't long for Guadalajara. Pachuca looked to sell Cota in the winter before agreeing to extend his loan another tournament. Chivas couldn't meet Tuzos' high asking price, and fellow Grupo Pachuca club Leon came in to sign the shot-stopper.
"I'm really happy because I'm coming to a great team with great fans like Leon. I'm ready to defend your colors," Cota said in a message posted to Twitter.
Leon had a disappointing Clausura but is set to retain manager Gustavo Diaz, who took over during the Apertura and took the team from the basement to a playoff position. The club signed Landon Donovan and Emanuel Cecchini in the winter window but neither were able to adapt quickly with Donovan coming off two years without playing professional soccer and Cecchini, a 21-year-old Malaga loanee, struggling to keep pace.
The struggles last season have La Fiera planning to be more active in the market as the team looks to win its first Liga MX title since the bicampeonato, back-to-back titles won in the 2013 Apertura and 2014 Clausura.
Leon's No. 1 goalkeeper had been United States international William Yarbrough, whose future now looks uncertain. Several teams are looking for a new No. 1 goalkeeper. Chivas, which signs only Mexican players, have been linked with a move for Monterrey goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez. Monterrey, in turn, is set to sign Necaxa goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero. Pumas also could be involved in the goalkeeper carousel as they look to upgrade from Alfredo Saldivar.
