Spain midfielder Rodri has arrived in Barcelona to finalize his transfer from Manchester City, describing the move as a long-held dream. The 30-year-old, who was recently named the best player of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, is set to sign a four-year contract with the La Liga champions following a deal worth approximately £65m.
Speaking to journalists at the airport on Monday, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner expressed his relief that the negotiations concluded successfully. “I’m very happy to have arrived. The last few days have been intense, but I’m glad everything has been sorted out. Of course, playing for FC Barcelona is a dream,” he said. Rodri added that he is eager to reunite with national team colleagues and begin working toward winning the Champions League and other major trophies with his new club.
The transfer marks the end of a highly successful seven-season tenure at Manchester City, where Rodri made 298 appearances. He joined the Premier League side from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-club record fee of £62.8m. During his time in England, he secured 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, two FA Cups, and the 2022-23 Champions League trophy.
His final years at the Etihad Stadium were occasionally hampered by fitness concerns, notably a serious knee injury that sidelined him for much of the 2024-25 campaign and a subsequent hamstring issue. However, he returned to peak form this summer to lead Spain to their second World Cup title.
Barcelona’s move to secure the midfielder follows a period of intense competition, with reports suggesting Real Madrid had also been interested. City had initially rejected an opening bid of £38.5m from the Catalan club last week, but negotiations accelerated as the player entered the final year of his contract, ultimately resulting in the £65m agreement. The report also notes that rodri added that he is aiming to win “the Champions League and everything else that comes our way” with Barca.
