Barcelona have reached a deal with Manchester City to sign Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, a source from the Catalan club has revealed. The 30-year-old midfielder is set to move for a fee of around 75 million euros ($87 million), according to reports.
“In the coming days there will be a statement and (the transfer) will become official,” said the Barcelona source. The club pushed to sign the former Atletico Madrid star despite heavy links to Real Madrid following Spain’s World Cup victory in July.
Rodri has been a cornerstone of Manchester City’s success since joining in 2019. The midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but remained a vital figure for Pep Guardiola, leading the team to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies.
Barcelona’s pursuit was accelerated by the injury to Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is expected to miss several months. After having two initial bids rejected, the Spanish champions finally reached an agreement with City on Sunday. Rodri joins a summer recruitment drive at Camp Nou that includes Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu.
Beyond the acquisition of the Spain captain, Barcelona are expected to finalize a deal for Joao Cancelo in the coming days. The club previously hosted the defender on loan from Al Hilal last season.
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