Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City for a fee of around £65m, with the 30-year-old midfielder set to sign a four-year contract with the Spanish champions. The transfer, which is expected to be finalised in the coming days, brings an end to seven trophy-laden seasons at City. One report described the move as already completed, though other accounts say a medical still needed to take place before any formal announcement.
Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8m and went on to make 298 appearances for the club. His departure comes after a stop-start couple of seasons in which he missed much of the 2024-25 campaign with a serious knee injury and had parts of last season disrupted by a hamstring problem. The move marks his first return to Spanish football since leaving Atletico Madrid.
How did the negotiations unfold?
Barcelona's pursuit followed a lengthy back-and-forth with City after their initial approach was knocked back. City had rejected Barcelona's opening bid earlier in the window at a time when Real Madrid's own interest in the Spain captain had collapsed, with the club indicating they would only sell for more than £60m. According to a BBC Sport report, that opening offer from Barcelona was worth roughly €45m, or about £38.5m, well short of City's valuation.
A second, improved offer of around €60m (£51m) was also turned down, as detailed in City's rejection of a fresh Barcelona bid reported earlier in August. City had reportedly been holding out for a fee closer to £65m, with some reports cited by ESPN suggesting the club valued him at more than €70m. Rodri is understood to have already agreed personal terms with Barcelona and to have made clear his preference for a move to the Catalan club over Real Madrid, according to the same report. Separately, a report cited by a national newspaper's transfer coverage said Barcelona's initial offer of around €45m plus add-ons was well below City's early asking price of closer to €80m, before the two sides reached a compromise.
The saga also followed a period of uncertainty over Rodri's fitness, having earlier undergone back surgery that ruled him out for a short spell, with Real Madrid among the clubs linked to him at that stage. Separately, Real Madrid had expressed confidence over signing Rodri earlier in the summer, before their interest ultimately fell away. Reports indicate the transfer is being pushed through now in part because Rodri is entering the final year of his contract at City.
What did Rodri achieve at Manchester City?
Rodri leaves City having won 12 major honours during his time at the club, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in the 2022-23 season. He capped his summer by captaining Spain to their second World Cup title and being named player of the tournament, having returned to top form after his injury troubles.
How much is the deal actually worth?
Reported figures for the transfer vary. While the headline fee has widely been put at around £65m, one detailed report said the total package was worth as much as €76.5m, comprising roughly €60m upfront plus more than €11m in achievable add-ons. The same report said City had been expecting at least €71.5m overall, partly because Rodri had less than 12 months remaining on his contract at the time of the deal.
What happens next?
According to ESPN, Barcelona and Manchester City have already exchanged paperwork to finalise the transfer, with the move expected to be completed within days. A separate report said Rodri had arrived in Barcelona ahead of the move, with a medical scheduled for Tuesday, 18 August 2026, and a possible formal announcement later the same day. Barcelona are reportedly hoping to present Rodri to supporters before their Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, according to the same sources.
Key Facts
- Fee: around £65m up front, with some reports putting the total package at up to €76.5m including add-ons, and Rodri set to sign a four-year deal at Barcelona
- City record: 298 appearances since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.8m
- Honours won at City: 12, including four Premier League titles and the 2022-23 Champions League
- Barcelona's first two bids, reportedly worth €45m and €60m, were both rejected by City, with City said to have initially wanted closer to €80m
- Rodri was named player of the tournament as Spain won the World Cup this summer
- Rodri was due to undergo a medical on 18 August 2026, with a presentation planned for 19 August 2026 ahead of Barcelona's Joan Gamper Trophy fixture against Al Ahly
