DETROIT – Detroit City FC announced on Friday it had acquired Maxi Rodriguez via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Rhode Island FC and signed to a two-year guaranteed contract, keeping him with Le Rouge through the 2027 season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Rodriguez had previously spent four seasons with Detroit City from 2021 to 2024, where he appeared in 142 matches for Le Rouge, the fifth-most in club history, scored 36 goals, the second-most in club history, and registered 15 assists, the third-most in club history. The contract is pending league and federation approval.

The 30-year-old recorded 38 appearances across all competitions for Rhode Island FC during the past USL Championship campaign. Rodriguez recorded seven goals and five assists across 2,358 minutes while with RIFC.

“It wasn’t long ago that I said my goodbyes to the city of Detroit and to the DCFC community,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve lined up on the opposite side, seen the strength of Keyworth from a different perspective, and it just didn’t feel right. With that being said, I’m very happy to rejoin a group that feels like home. I’m very grateful to the club and Danny for this opportunity. To represent the city of Detroit and wear that crest again is going to be amazing!”

The midfielder joined Rhode Island after an outstanding 2024 season with DCFC. Rodriguez finished the year as DCFC’s joint top scorer with 10 goals and led the team with five assists. He was also named to the USL Championship’s All-League First Team for the first time in his career, becoming the first Detroit City FC player to earn this honor since the club joined the league before the 2022 season.

The 2023 season saw Rodriguez contribute four goals and provide three assists, helping Detroit City secure its first-ever USL Championship playoff victory against top-seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds. That year, Rodriguez was also recognized as one of the first four ‘City Centurions’ in club history, reaching the 100-appearance milestone for Le Rouge on September 27.

Rodriguez played a key role in a pivotal 2022 season, the club’s first in the USL Championship. Rodriguez was a regular starter for Le Rouge across all competitions, including one of the most memorable nights in club history when his two second-half goals helped Detroit City defeat the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer 2-1 in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Rodriguez led the team in goals in 2022 with 12 across all competitions, including nine in the USL Championship and three in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The San Antonio, Texas native had previously played college soccer at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, making 60 appearances over four years from 2013 to 2016. After college, Rodriguez joined his hometown team, San Antonio FC, where he would make 32 appearances across the 2017 and 2018 USL Championship seasons. Rodriguez joined USL League One side Richmond Kickers in 2019, where he would score in his first game with the club. Rodriguez finished that 2019 season with 23 appearances for the Virginia-based club.