Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder is set to join Barcelona on a four-year contract after Manchester City accepted the latest offer
Barcelona have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign 30-year-old Spain midfielder Rodri for about £65.4 million ($88.5 million), marking a major statement signing for the Spanish champions as they strengthen their midfield ahead of the new season.
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The agreement, reached on Sunday, August 16, 2026, is expected to be formalised in the coming days after the necessary documentation and medical procedures are completed.
Reports indicate that Rodri has agreed to a four-year contract that would keep him at Barcelona until 2030.
A source from the Catalan club told AFP that an official announcement was expected soon.
“In the coming days, there will be a statement and (the transfer) will become official,” the Barcelona source said.
The reported package is understood to comprise about €60 million upfront, with performance-related additions potentially taking the total towards €75 million. Other reports have placed the final value at approximately €76.5 million.
The agreement concludes an intense period of negotiations during which Barcelona had several offers rejected by Manchester City.
The Premier League club had initially resisted proposals below its valuation before accepting the latest terms as Rodri entered the final year of his City contract.
Rodri’s decision represents a significant return to Spain for one of European football’s most decorated midfielders.
The former Atlético Madrid player joined City in 2019 for a then club-record fee and went on to become one of the defining figures of Pep Guardiola’s successful era. (Reuters)
During seven seasons in Manchester, Rodri made 298 appearances and helped City win 12 major trophies, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League. He also scored the winning goal in City’s 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan.
His individual achievements have been equally striking. Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Manchester City player to receive the prestigious award.
His stock rose further during Spain’s triumphant 2026 World Cup campaign, when Rodri played a pivotal role in his country’s second World Cup triumph.
His performances strengthened Barcelona’s determination to bring him back to La Liga.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri also intensified because of a significant midfield setback.
Frenkie de Jong is expected to spend several months on the sidelines with injury, creating an urgent need for an experienced player capable of controlling matches from the centre of the pitch.
Rodri’s arrival could therefore provide Barcelona manager Hansi Flick with a powerful combination of experience, leadership and tactical intelligence in midfield.
He is also familiar with several members of Barcelona’s squad through Spain’s national team, including Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal.
The move had been complicated by interest from Real Madrid, who had also been linked with Rodri following Spain’s World Cup success.
Barcelona ultimately pushed harder for the midfielder and secured his preference to return to Catalonia.
For Manchester City, however, Rodri’s departure represents a significant loss at the beginning of a new managerial era under Enzo Maresca.
Rodri was notably absent as City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield, having only recently returned to training following minor back surgery.
Maresca previously acknowledged Rodri’s importance to the side while leaving the door open to further transfer developments.
The Italian now faces the considerable task of reshaping a midfield that has already undergone changes this summer.
Manchester City have moved to prepare for the transition, with the club pursuing midfield reinforcements including Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and other targets.
The club have also invested heavily in Elliot Anderson as part of the rebuilding process.
The Barcelona Rodri deal is consequently more than a high-profile transfer. For Barcelona, it represents an ambitious attempt to add proven elite quality to a midfield affected by injury.
For City, it signals the end of a remarkable chapter involving a player who became central to one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Barcelona are also expected to complete the return of João Cancelo, who previously spent a season on loan at the Catalan club, adding another familiar face to Flick’s squad.
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Once the Rodri transfer is formally completed, Barcelona will have secured one of the most influential midfielders in world football at a pivotal moment in his career, while City must now begin life without the player who provided the balance and control at the heart of their greatest recent successes.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
