Barcelona have agreed a deal in principle worth €76.5m (£65.3m) with Manchester City for Rodri.
The Spain international is expected to join Barcelona in the coming days after the clubs exchanged paperwork and finalised the main terms of the transfer. City will receive €60m up front, with more than €11m in achievable add-ons, and are expected to receive at least €71.5m in total.
This transfer could be a sliding doors moment for La Liga. Madrid were interested in Rodri before Barcelona swooped in to draw the Ballon d’Or winner to Catalonia.
Midfield was not even a priority initially, but Rodri’s availability prompted the club to act, particularly after Frenkie de Jong suffered a serious knee injury that is expected to keep him out for an extended period.
This could be a statement signing that strengthens Barcelona far beyond what Madrid can compete with. They have already shown much superiority to their arch-rivals over the past two seasons, winning two consecutive Spanish league titles and beating them six times in seven clásico meetings.
Rodri’s arrival also gives Hansi Flick yet another one of Spain’s internationals, who have conquered Europe and the world over the past two years. The squad already contained Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal.
World Cup Winner, Rodri 🇪🇸🏆 pic.twitter.com/u4Ew5xLH9D
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 20, 2026
In contrast, for the first time in history, no Madrid player made the Spain squad for this summer’s World Cup. Jose Mouinho’s side have a mountain to climb if they are to wrest the La Liga title from Barcelona this season.
Rodri arrives at Barcelona with a record that makes him one of the most decorated players in the game. In addition to winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or, since joining City from Atletico Madrid in 2019, he has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League. He scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
City had been prepared to negotiate because of Rodri’s contract situation, although Barcelona initially faced a valuation close to €80m. Their first offer, made on 7 August, was worth about €45m plus add-ons.
The Premier League club have already begun planning for life without the midfielder. They signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m in July and have also been pursuing Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Rodri leaves City after making 298 appearances for the club, scoring 28 goals and providing 32 assists. His departure would remove one of the central figures from the side that dominated English football and won the Champions League.
