Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign Rodri from Manchester City, with the Spain captain set to return to La Liga after seven trophy-filled seasons in England. The proposed deal is understood to be worth €76.5 million (about $88.4 million) in total, after Barcelona returned with a third offer for the 30-year-old midfielder. Rodri is set to sign a four-year contract with the La Liga champions. The move would bring one of the world's most accomplished midfielders back to Spain just weeks after he captained the country to the 2026 World Cup and was named the tournament's best player.
Barcelona had already seen two approaches for Rodri rejected before returning with an improved proposal over the weekend. According to sources cited by ESPN and The Athletic, Barcelona’s third offer takes the total package to €76.5 million ($88.4m). City will receive an upfront €60 million ($68.8m), with more than €11 million in highly achievable bonuses, and the Premier League club expects to receive at least €71.5 million overall for Rodri, who has less than 12 months left on his contract. Rodri is expected to travel to Barcelona in the coming days and could be presented before Wednesday's Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at Spotify Camp Nou. The agreement follows a summer in which Rodri's future had become increasingly uncertain. He was entering the final year of his Manchester City contract, giving the English club a reason to consider a sale if the right offer arrived. Barcelona's interest also developed after Frenkie de Jong suffered a long-term injury, prompting the Spanish champions to explore the midfield market more seriously. Rodri was not initially considered a priority target, but his availability changed the picture. Barcelona then moved ahead with their pursuit, while sources told ESPN that the midfielder preferred a return to Spain with Barça over a move to Real Madrid.
Barcelona see Rodri as a major addition to a squad that has won consecutive Spanish league titles and are understood to view him as a player capable of strengthening Hansi Flick's side for the coming seasons. His arrival would also add another established leader to a summer recruitment drive that has already brought Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu to the club. João Cancelo is also set to return to Barcelona as a free agent, according to sources cited by ESPN, while the club continue to pursue a striker. Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez is their leading target following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Rodri's experience would be particularly valuable in a squad preparing to compete on multiple fronts. He has won at the highest level in both club and international football, while his ability to control games from midfield has made him one of the defining players in his position.
Rodri joined Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019 after previously playing for Villarreal and Atlético. Across 298 appearances in seven seasons, he helped City win 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23. His time in England was interrupted by a serious knee injury that ruled him out for much of the 2024-25 campaign, while a hamstring problem also disrupted parts of last season. He returned to his best level at the 2026 World Cup, captaining Spain to the title after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina. Rodri was also awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. The World Cup triumph followed his success at Euro 2024, where he was also named player of the tournament. That performance helped him win the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
Rodri would therefore leave Manchester City having added almost every major honour available to his collection.
Barcelona's opening proposal was reportedly rejected last week, with City turning down an offer worth around €45.2 million ($52.2 million) before the Catalan club increased its bid.
After Sunday's Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, new City manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a player of Rodri's calibre. “Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or,” Maresca said. “He's a top player, all the teams need a Rodri, so it's not about if we miss Rodri or not.”
Rodri's departure would bring an end to his seven-year spell at the Etihad and leave City without a midfielder who has been central to their most successful period. For Barcelona, meanwhile, the agreement would bring home a player who has already won a World Cup, European Championship and Ballon d'Or, while still being 30 years old and entering what could be several important seasons at the Camp Nou.
