Barcelona sign Rodri from Man City in £65m deal

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Manchester City midfielder Rodri for a fee of £65 million. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has agreed to a four‑year contract that will see him return to La Liga at the Nou Camp, marking his first spell in Spanish football since leaving Atlético Madrid in 2019. At 30 years old, Rodri departs City after seven seasons, during which he made 298 appearances and won 12 major honours: four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the 2023 UEFA Champions League. Although injuries disrupted his last two campaigns, he returned to peak form for Spain’s victorious summer World Cup, earning a place in the tournament’s best‑XI as La Roja lifted the trophy for a second time. Real Madrid had appeared best placed to secure his services once he entered the final 12 months of his City contract, but sources told BBC Sport that Barcelona had Rodri’s backing to open negotiations. After City rejected an initial Barcelona offer of £38.5 million, the clubs reached an agreement. On Monday Rodri flew to Barcelona and, speaking to journalists at the airport, described the move as “a dream” to play for the Catalan side.