Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City for the transfer of influential Spanish midfielder Rodri. The Catalan club will pay an overall package of approximately $76.5 million (£58 million / €71.5 million), equivalent to around 10.63 billion Bangladeshi taka. A source within the club confirmed to news agencies that an official announcement is imminent, with final paperwork expected to be processed in the coming days.
The move caps a remarkably decorated spell at Manchester City. Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Atlético Madrid in 2019, Rodri established himself as the engine room of Pep Guardiola’s squad. During his tenure in England, he collected 12 major trophies, including four Premier League titles and the 2023 UEFA Champions League, in which he scored the winning goal in the final. His tactical intelligence, defensive discipline, and passing precision were further recognised in 2024 when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or. Despite experiencing occasional fitness setbacks over the past two seasons, he remains regarded as one of the finest central midfielders in modern football.
Barcelona pursued Rodri with urgency following a severe midfield crisis. Dutch international Frenkie de Jong was sidelined with a long-term knee injury, leaving manager Hansi Flick in dire need of an experienced, world-class anchor. Manchester City initially rebuffed two formal bids from Barcelona, but negotiations accelerated over the weekend after the player expressed his desire for a fresh challenge in La Liga.
The Spain captain becomes Barcelona’s latest marquee signing in an ambitious summer transfer campaign, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu. Additionally, the club is finalising terms to secure full-back João Cancelo on a permanent basis following his loan spell from Al-Hilal.
At Barcelona, Rodri will reunite with a formidable core of his national team colleagues, including Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, and Joan García. Personal terms are agreed on a four-year contract, and the midfielder is scheduled to complete his medical examination before being formally unveiled at Camp Nou.
