Barcelona secure Rodri in £65m deal as Manchester City face midfield transition
The 30-year-old midfielder is set to sign a four-year contract with the Spanish champions, following the rejection of an initial £38.5m offer by Manchester City.
Barcelona have agreed a £65m transfer fee to sign Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City, marking the end of a highly successful seven-year tenure for the midfielder. The 30-year-old is set to sign a four-year deal with the Spanish club, with the transfer expected to be finalised in the coming days. The agreement follows the rejection of an initial £38.5m offer by Manchester City, who were initially seeking a higher valuation for their star player.
Rodri leaves Manchester City having made 298 appearances and won 12 major honours, including the Champions League in 2022-23 and four Premier League titles. He originally joined the club from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-club record fee of £62.8m. His departure comes after a period of injury disruption, having missed much of the 2024-25 campaign due to a serious knee injury and suffering hamstring issues last season.
Despite these physical setbacks, Rodri returned to peak form to captain Spain to World Cup glory this summer, where he was named Player of the Tournament. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, cementing his status as one of the world’s premier midfielders. His contract at the Etihad Stadium was set to enter its final year, but Barcelona stepped up their efforts to secure his signature ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who was appointed last month, acknowledged the significance of the loss but maintained a pragmatic view of the club’s future. Speaking after City’s defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, Maresca stated that Rodri is a top player whom all teams need, suggesting the club would adapt regardless of his departure. Maresca also confirmed that Rodri is scheduled to undergo back surgery on Monday for a back issue, requiring rest and recuperation following the procedure.
As Manchester City navigate this midfield transition, reports indicate the club is interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as a potential replacement. Chelsea valued Fernandez at £120m and set a deadline of 17:00 BST on Friday for offers, but no bids were received. While Chelsea hope to keep their vice-captain, City remain interested in the deal, which would be the fourth-biggest football transfer ever. The club has also signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer, providing Maresca with additional flexibility in the centre of the park.
