Rodri joins La Liga champions Barcelona from Manchester City

In a significant transfer announcement on Tuesday, La Liga champions Barcelona secured the signature of Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri from Premier League side Manchester City. The 30-year-old midfielder has agreed to a contract that will keep him at the Catalonia-based club until 2030, bringing an end to a lengthy and high-profile transfer saga this summer. Barcelona released a statement confirming the deal, which was reportedly valued at approximately 75 million euros ($87 million).

The transfer news follows a series of recent arrivals for Barcelona, including Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. This marks the third high-profile signing for the Spanish powerhouse this summer.

According to reports, Barcelona and City had reached an agreement to complete the transfer just days before the 30-year-old arrived in the Catalan capital to finalize personal terms. Rodri, a former player at Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, had previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid before ultimately opting for his city rivals. The midfielder has faced injury issues over the past couple of seasons but has been instrumental in Spain's World Cup triumph last month.

Upon his departure from City, Rodri expressed his gratitude for the time spent at the club, stating, "I am leaving the club with a huge sense of pride about what we have achieved and gratitude too for so many amazing memories." The midfielder's presence at Barcelona is expected to bolster their midfield options and add to the team's already impressive trophy haul, which includes 12 major trophies during his time at Manchester City.