Rodrigo Mendoza Martínez-Moyá was born on 15 March 2005. Sometimes known simply as "Rodri," he developed in Spain and broke through with Elche, where 71 senior appearances brought 6 goals and 3 assists and identified him as one of the most promising young midfielders in the Spanish second tier and beyond.
Atlético Madrid agreed his signing on 2 February 2026 on transfer deadline day, paying around €16 million plus a possible €4 million in performance bonuses to Elche — Elche's largest-ever sale. The contract runs through 2031. The move had earlier been the subject of a public courtship, and Mendoza has stated his intention to "make his own path" at Atlético rather than be defined by the comparisons that come with joining a club of this standing.
A central midfielder with vertical-passing ability and a creative range, Mendoza fits the developmental midfield brief Diego Simeone has been refining around Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso. The 2025–26 spring will be about integration, but he is one of the most expensive young Spanish midfield signings of the winter window, projecting as a long-term first-team contributor.