Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri for around £65m, bringing the Spain captain back to La Liga after seven seasons in England.
The 30-year-old is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Spanish champions, with the final stages of the transfer set to be completed in the coming days.
Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8m and went on to make 298 appearances. He became one of the central figures in the club’s most successful era, collecting 12 major trophies.
His honours include four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the 2022-23 Champions League. He also claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Rodri’s final two seasons in Manchester were affected by fitness problems. A serious knee injury ruled him out for much of the 2024-25 campaign, while a hamstring problem interrupted parts of the following season.
He nevertheless returned to peak form with Spain at this summer’s World Cup, captaining the national team to their second global title and finishing the tournament as its leading individual performer.
Barcelona had already seen an opening offer of approximately £38.5m rejected by City last week. Rodri was approaching the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, increasing the prospect of a transfer before the end of the summer window.
Real Madrid had previously appeared to be the strongest candidate for his signature, but Barcelona accelerated negotiations in recent days and have now moved into position to complete the deal.
Rodri’s departure leaves City facing another significant midfield rebuild. Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders have also left the club, increasing the need for further reinforcements under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi remains among City’s leading targets. The 18-year-old has been linked with a move throughout the summer and could reportedly cost around £85m.
Bouaddi strengthened his reputation with Lille in Ligue 1 and the Champions League before impressing again at this summer’s World Cup. Primarily used as a deep-lying midfielder, his ability to control possession and dictate the tempo could make him a natural option to fill part of the gap created by Rodri’s exit.
City already added the more attack-minded Anderson this summer, meaning Bouaddi would offer a different profile as the club reshapes its midfield ahead of the new season.