Barcelona has reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Spanish midfielder Rodri, putting the La Roja captain on the verge of a return to La Liga during the summer transfer window.
According to The Athletic, the two clubs have finalized negotiations regarding the transfer fee, while medical examinations and official procedures are expected to be completed next week.
Rodri will sign a 4-season contract with Barcelona, keeping him at the Spotify Camp Nou until June 30, 2030.
Details of the Agreement Between Barcelona and Manchester City
The total value of the deal is €76.5 million, comprising a fixed €60 million plus €16.5 million in bonuses and variables tied to specific conditions.
Over €11 million of these bonuses are considered easily achievable, meaning Manchester City expects to receive at least €71.5 million.
City agreed to sell Rodri despite his importance to the team, as the player entered the final 12 months of his contract, which ends in the summer of 2027. The English club risked losing him for a lower amount or for free at the end of the season.
Rodri Prefers Barcelona Over Real Madrid
Rodri settled his future by choosing to move to Barcelona, despite strong interest from Real Madrid in signing him over the past weeks.
Real Madrid was one of the top contenders to sign the player and entered talks regarding the deal, but Rodri informed the relevant parties that he preferred Barcelona’s offer, giving the Catalan club the green light to complete negotiations with Manchester City.
After securing the player’s approval, Barcelona raised its offer more than once and restructured the bonuses until an agreement was reached with the English club, following about 10 days of intense negotiations.
Rodri’s Career and Major Achievements
Rodri began his journey in the Atlético Madrid academy before moving to Villarreal’s youth sector, making his first-team debut in 2015.
The midfielder returned to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2018 but spent only one season with the team before moving to Manchester City in 2019, becoming one of the most important elements of the English club’s historic era.
Rodri played nearly 300 matches in a City shirt, winning 13 trophies with them, including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
The Spanish player scored the winning goal against Inter in the 2023 Champions League final, which gave Manchester City its first continental title and completed its historic treble.
Internationally, Rodri led Spain to victory in Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, winning the Best Player award in both tournaments, and was also awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
