Rodri Lands in Barcelona After £65m Man City Transfer
Barcelona and Manchester City have agreed a deal to transfer midfielder Rodri. A source confirmed the fee to the Associated Press at €76.5 million ($88.5 million).
- £65m is the figure cited by BBC News; The Sun reported £65.4m with roughly £51m paid upfront.
- Rodri, 30, had one year remaining on his contract with City.
- He won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and the World Cup Golden Ball in July 2026.
- Lille are asking around £85 million for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18.
Why it matters: Rodri's exit leaves a significant gap in City's midfield. Bernardo Silva had already departed for Real Madrid earlier this summer, and the Premier League season begins in one week.
- City were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday; Rodri did not play, recovering from minor back surgery after the World Cup.
- Maresca said after the match: "We are quite clear in what we need to do and for sure we are going to do something before the window closes."
How 12 sources split on this story
Where they split: Outlets agree the deal is done in principle but report different fee figures, ranging from £60m to €76.5m ($88.5m), reflecting the structure of upfront payments versus add-ons.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center focuses on confirmed deal terms and Rodri's record at City, leading with the AP-sourced fee and his trophy haul across seven seasons.
BBC News1w+Rodri lands in Barcelona to complete 'dream' moveKSAKSAT 12 San Antonio1w+Barcelona set to sign Rodri after agreeing to deal with Man City, AP source says
Associated Press1w+Barcelona listo para fichar a Rodri tras acordar un trato con Man City: AP
Reuters1w+Manchester City acepta la oferta del Barcelona por el centrocampista español Rodri: reportes
ESPN1w+Sources: Barça, Man City reach $87M Rodri deal
Forbes1w+FC Barcelona Finally Seals Rodri Transfer After Manchester City Accept
USA Today1w+World Cup star Rodri to sign with FC Barcelona, per reports
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right emphasizes City's urgent need to rebuild and Maresca's public pressure on the club's owners to act fast, framing the Rodri sale as the start of a difficult transition.
What’s next: Rodri is expected to travel to Barcelona within days to complete a medical.
- City are pursuing Bouaddi as a direct Rodri replacement; talks with Lille are described as advanced.
- Will the add-ons in Rodri's deal be triggered, and what is the realistic ceiling of the final fee?
- Can City complete a replacement signing before the Premier League season opens in one week?
- How quickly will Rodri recover from back surgery and be available for Barcelona?