Barcelona have secured an agreement with Manchester City to sign Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, according to a source from the Catalan club. The 30-year-old midfielder is set to join for a transfer fee close to €75 million (approximately $87 million).
The club insider confirmed that an official announcement is expected in the coming days, signaling the completion of the deal. Rodri, who has been a key player for Manchester City since his arrival in 2019, had also been linked with a move to Real Madrid following Spain’s victory at the World Cup in July. However, Barcelona’s determination to secure the former Atletico Madrid star has prevailed.
Strategic Signing Amid Injury Concerns
Despite battling injuries over the past two seasons, Rodri’s outstanding performances during Spain’s second World Cup triumph and his 2024 Ballon d’Or win underline his quality. His leadership as Spain’s captain and his central role under Pep Guardiola at Man City were instrumental in the club’s haul of 12 major trophies, including the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles.
Barcelona’s urgency to finalize Rodri’s transfer was heightened by the injury to Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is expected to be sidelined for several months. This development pushed the Catalan side to intensify their pursuit of Rodri, overcoming initial setbacks when two bids were previously rejected by Manchester City.
With the deal now agreed upon, Rodri joins a summer recruitment wave at Camp Nou, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu, as Barcelona looks to bolster its midfield and competitive edge for the upcoming season.