Barcelona agree £65m deal to sign Rodri from Man City

Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Manchester City star Rodri for approximately £65 million. The 30-year-old, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024, is set to sign a four-year contract with the Spanish champions. The transfer is expected to be finalized in the coming days. Rodri played 298 matches for City in seven successful seasons after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-record £62.8 million.

His season was disrupted by a serious knee injury in 2024-25, but he returned to peak form at the World Cup, leading Spain to a second title and being named player of the tournament. At City, Rodri has won 12 major titles, including four Premier League championships, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups, and the Champions League in 2022-23.

Initially, City rejected Barcelona's initial offer of £38.5 million, but the Spanish club stepped up their efforts, leading to the deal's completion. Enzo Maresca, City's new manager, praised Rodri as a top player, emphasizing the need for such talent in football. Meanwhile, there is speculation about potential replacements for Rodri, including 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed at the World Cup.

Additionally, Manchester City is also interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and English midfielder Elliot Anderson.