Rodri transfer news: Man City accept bid from Barcelona for World Cup-winning midfielder and former Ballon d'Or holder
Man City have agreed to sell Rodri to Barcelona for £65.4m; the 30-year-old won the World Cup with Spain; City broke the British transfer record to sign £116m Elliot Anderson this summer and are interested in £120m Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi
Sunday 16 August 2026 22:36, UK
Man City have accepted a £65.4m bid from Barcelona for their star midfielder Rodri.
The Spain World Cup winner and former Ballon d'Or holder, who helped City to four Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph, will now head to Barcelona to complete his transfer after seven seasons in Manchester.
The 30-year-old had one year left on his contract and while Man City wanted him to stay and sign an extension, Barcelona's third offer proved to be too good to turn down. He has agreed a four-year deal with Barcelona.
Last week Barcelona had an initial offer in the region of £40m knocked back, returning with a £55m bid, which was also rejected.
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City boss Enzo Maresca said "All teams need a player like Rodri" when asked about the player after the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, which Rodri missed after only returning to the club's training ground on Friday, following minor surgery on his back after the World Cup.
Maresca also encouraged City to move quickly for their transfer targets. They hold interest in Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez - although City missed Chelsea's Friday 5pm deadline to make a £120m bid for Fernandez.
Asked about Bouaddi, Maresca said: "He's still a Lille player. But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it's better. Because we're going to start the Premier League in one week. If they start to work with us as soon as possible, it's better if they can also understand the way we need to play."
Central midfield is in focus this summer at Man City. They broke the British transfer record to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m.
Meanwhile, City have agreed a deal to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah. The fee is around £51m.
Reijnders, who joined City from AC Milan last summer, wants to move and now looks set for the Saudi Pro League.
Could Rodri sale help fund Fernandez move?
Chelsea expect Fernandez to stay at Stamford Bridge for the entirety of the 2026/27 season after City missed Friday's deadline, which was set by Chelsea.
However, that doesn't mean City won't try to bid for the Argentina international now Rodri's move to Barcelona has been agreed.
"This was a deadline Chelsea imposed themselves and Man City were unlikely to play ball with a club imposing their own transfer deadlines," explained Sky Sports News' Alan Irwin on Friday.
"City boss Enzo Maresca is a big admirer of Enzo Fernandez. He understands exactly what he could bring to the club. But if the transfer is to come off is very much dependent on if Rodri leaves Man City for Barcelona."
Analysis: Rodri exit leaves a 'huge hole' at Man City
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom:
"Rodri leaves a huge hole. We saw an aspect of that in the Community Shield, Manchester City lacking particularly in the centre of the pitch. Rodri would have made a huge difference.
"He was instrumental to what Manchester City did in 2022/23 when they won the treble. He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final to beat Inter Milan in Istanbul.
"From 2024 onwards, that injury in the final of the Euros really plagued him. Then he suffered the ACL injury early on in the 2024/25 season. Then we realised how critical he was to what Manchester City were doing.
"They had a massive hole in their midfield. When Rodri didn't play the conversation was Manchester City were not the same team. The way he is able to control a game is remarkable."
