Barcelona agree £65.4m deal to sign Ballon d'Or winner Rodri from Man City

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City for the transfer of Spanish midfielder Rodri, paving the way for one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window.

Manchester City have accepted an offer worth around £65.4 million for the 30-year-old, according to reports, after Barcelona saw earlier approaches rejected. Rodri has agreed to a four-year contract with the reigning La Liga champions and is expected to travel to Barcelona to complete the formalities of the transfer.

The move will bring an end to a hugely successful seven-year spell in England for the Spain international, who established himself as one of the world's leading defensive midfielders during his time at City.

Four-year deal

Barcelona had been pursuing Rodri as a major reinforcement for their midfield and eventually convinced City to sanction his departure after increasing their offer.

Reports suggest the Premier League club had rejected two earlier proposals before accepting Barcelona's latest bid. With Rodri approaching the final year of his Manchester City contract, his contractual situation also played a role in City's decision to negotiate a transfer rather than risk losing one of their most valuable players for a substantially lower return later.

The midfielder is now expected to undergo the necessary medical examinations before completing his switch to the Catalan giants.

For Barcelona, Rodri represents a major addition to a squad looking to maintain its domestic dominance while strengthening its challenge for European honours. His ability to dictate possession from deep, protect the defence and control the tempo of matches gives the Spanish side an experienced presence at the base of midfield.

Glittering City spell

Rodri joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.8 million and went on to become a central figure in the club's most successful era.

He made 298 appearances during his seven seasons with City and collected 12 major trophies. His haul included four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, along with multiple domestic cup successes.

One of the defining moments of his City career came in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan, when he scored the only goal of the match to secure the club's first European Cup and complete a historic treble.

Rodri's performances for club and country subsequently earned him the 2024 Ballon d'Or, underlining his status among the game's elite midfielders.

Return to Spain

The proposed Barcelona transfer will see Rodri return to Spanish club football seven years after leaving Atletico Madrid for England.

Before his spell at Atletico, the midfielder developed at Villarreal, where his performances helped establish him as one of Spain's most promising midfield talents.

His international career has also brought major honours, with Rodri becoming an integral part of Spain's midfield and establishing himself as a leader within the national side.

The move gives Barcelona a midfielder with extensive experience at the highest level and a player capable of contributing both defensively and in possession.

Major City exit

Rodri's departure, meanwhile, leaves Manchester City facing the challenge of replacing a player who has been fundamental to their midfield structure for much of the past decade.

The Spaniard's influence has extended beyond his defensive responsibilities, with his passing range and positional awareness allowing City to control matches and sustain pressure high up the pitch.

Rodri recently underwent minor back surgery and missed City's 3-0 Community Shield defeat against Arsenal. He had only recently returned to training before reports of the Barcelona agreement emerged.

With the two clubs now having reached an agreement, the remaining medical and contractual formalities are expected to be completed before Rodri is formally unveiled as a Barcelona player.