Barcelona have agreed a deal worth about £65.4 million with Manchester City for Spain captain Rodri, with the midfielder expected to move to the Catalan club on a four-year contract. The agreement is expected to be formally completed after the necessary documentation and medical procedures.
The 30-year-old midfielder will leave Manchester City after seven highly successful seasons at the Etihad Stadium, having made 298 appearances for the club and helped them win 12 major trophies.
Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8 million. During his time in England, he won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the UEFA Champions League in the 2022-23 season.
His individual achievements also include the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which he won after playing a central role in Manchester City’s success and Spain’s European Championship triumph.
Rodri’s final years at City were affected by injury problems. He missed much of the 2024-25 campaign because of a serious knee injury and also experienced further fitness issues. More recently, he underwent minor back surgery and was absent from City’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal after only recently returning to training.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri gathered momentum after the club’s earlier offers were rejected by City. Reports indicate that Barcelona eventually increased their proposal to a figure that City were prepared to accept, particularly with Rodri entering the final year of his contract.
The move represents a major addition to Barcelona’s midfield. Rodri’s ability to control possession, dictate the tempo of matches and provide defensive protection is expected to strengthen the Spanish champions considerably.
Manchester City are now facing the difficult task of replacing one of the most influential midfielders in the club’s recent history.
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One of their leading targets is Ayyoub Bouaddi, the highly rated 18-year-old midfielder from Lille. City have reportedly accelerated their interest in the teenager following the agreement with Barcelona for Rodri.
Bouaddi is regarded as a deep-lying midfielder capable of controlling play from behind the attacking line, making him a natural candidate to help fill the role Rodri leaves behind.
City have also been linked with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández. The Premier League club had placed a reported £120 million valuation on Fernández, although no acceptable offer was received before Chelsea’s stated deadline. City are nevertheless understood to remain interested.
Fernández could offer City versatility because of his ability to operate both as a defensive midfielder and further forward. He scored a career-best 15 goals during the previous season after being deployed in a more advanced role at Chelsea.
Another player on City’s radar is Alex Scott of Bournemouth. The 22-year-old England international has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, but Bournemouth have made it clear that they want to keep him. Chelsea previously had a reported £64 million bid rejected for the midfielder.
City have already strengthened their midfield this summer with the signing of Elliot Anderson, but Rodri’s departure leaves a significant gap in their squad.
For Barcelona, meanwhile, the agreement marks a major coup as they prepare to welcome back one of Spain’s most accomplished midfielders to La Liga. Rodri’s move is expected to be officially completed once the remaining formalities are concluded.
BBC
