Barcelona have officially announced the acquisition of midfielder Rodri from Manchester City, sealing a deal valued at approximately £65.4 million. The 30‑year‑old Spanish international, a World Cup champion and former Ballon d'Or recipient, has agreed to a four‑year contract with the LaLiga giants after enjoying a highly successful spell in England where he helped City capture four Premier League crowns and a Champions League trophy.
Rodri entered the summer with just one season remaining on his City contract. The English club made a clear effort to retain him, offering an extension and attempting to persuade the player to stay. However, Barcelona’s third and final proposal proved irresistible, prompting the midfielder to swap the Etihad for the Camp Nou.
Manchester City had previously turned down two offers from the Catalan side – first a £40 million bid and later a £55 million one – before finally accepting the £65.4 million package that satisfied both clubs and the player’s ambitions. The departure of Rodri adds to a busy transfer window for Pep Guardiola’s side. Enzo Maresca’s Barcelona are also looking to replace Tijjani Reijnders, who is set to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al Qadsiah for roughly £51 million.
Meanwhile, City remain active in the market, keeping an eye on Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández despite missing the official deadline of 5 p.m. on August 14, and negotiating with Lille for a move for Moroccan winger Ayyoub Bouaddi. Lille are reportedly asking for around £85 million, a figure confirmed by their head coach Davide Ancelotti during weekend talks.
Statistically, Rodri’s influence on City has been profound. In the 87 Premier League matches where he did not start, the team suffered 20 defeats – almost double the loss rate compared with the 179 games he began on the pitch. The side’s win percentage fell from 71.5 % with Rodri in the starting eleven to 62.1 % without him, while both goals scored and goals conceded moved in an unfavorable direction. The most recent illustration of his absence was the 3‑0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield, a match that highlighted the midfield void left by his departure.
Following the confirmation of his move, Rodri posted an emotional farewell letter to Manchester City supporters on the club’s official website. He wrote: "Dear City fans, saying goodbye is one of the hardest things in life, but I will try.
It is difficult to find the words to convey the gratitude, love and support my family and I have received over the years. I still remember the excitement of signing for Manchester City – the feeling of joining legends like Kevin, Aguero, Silva, Bernardo and John. I could not stop smiling." He continued, praising manager Pep Guardiola for his mentorship: "Pep, from day one you tried to teach me everything. I admit I struggled to keep all the tactics straight in my head, but the challenge only made me stronger." Rodri reflected on the expectations placed on the squad and how they were eventually met: "There were moments when I wondered if we could handle the pressure for the years ahead.
Time answered that question. We built a legacy not just through trophies, but through the way we achieved them. The fans were with us every step of the way." He recounted several career highlights, from his first trophy on debut to the dramatic last‑minute winner against Arsenal away, the crucial goal against Aston Villa that secured the Premier League title, and the decisive strike in the Champions League final that delivered the coveted European crown.
He also expressed pride in becoming the first player to lift the Ballon d’Or while wearing a sky‑blue shirt, noting the historic significance of the treble and the unprecedented four‑in‑a‑row league titles. Beyond football, Rodri emphasized how City shaped his personal life: "City helped me grow as a person. I watched my brother graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University, saw my girlfriend work for the NHS, and fell in love with the city’s rain, its parks, and the sea of blue chanting ‘nah, nah, nah, nah…CITY’." Concluding his letter, he thanked everyone who had been part of his journey: "City fans, thank you for everything – the club, the staff, my teammates.
My heart will always be blue." Rodri’s move to Barcelona marks a new chapter for both player and club. The midfielder joins a side eager to rebuild after a challenging season, bringing his experience, tactical intelligence and winning mentality to a squad that hopes to challenge for domestic and European honors. For Manchester City, the task now is to find a suitable replacement who can fill the strategic gap left by one of the modern game’s most effective defensive midfielders, while continuing to pursue the ambitious projects that have defined Pep Guardiola’s tenure.