Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City to sign Rodri in a deal worth €76.5 million. The Spanish club made three attempts to secure the midfielder, eventually reaching an agreement with City after submitting an improved offer over the weekend. Rodri is expected to arrive in Barcelona soon and could be unveiled before the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly.

The 30-year-old midfielder is set to become Barcelona’s fourth major signing of the summer, with João Cancelo also expected to return as a free agent. The club have already added Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu, while they continue to pursue Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Rodri was not originally among Barcelona’s main targets, but the situation changed after he became available and Frenkie de Jong suffered a long-term injury. Real Madrid also showed interest, but Rodri preferred a move to Barcelona. City were willing to negotiate because the midfielder had only one year left on his contract, allowing Barça to complete what they see as a major statement signing for Hansi Flick’s squad.

Rodri arrives with an exceptional record after joining Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019. He has won four Premier League titles and the Champions League with City, while also lifting major international trophies with Spain. His achievements include winning the European Championship and World Cup, along with the 2024 Ballon d’Or, making his arrival one of Barcelona’s most significant moves of the summer.