Rodri set to leave Manchester City for Barcelona after City accept £65.4m bid

Rodri is set to leave Manchester City for Barcelona after City accepted a £65.4m bid (The Guardian); ESPN puts the total package at €76.5m. Paperwork is being finalised — no official announcement yet.

The deal

Per The Guardian, City accepted Barcelona's £65.4m offer after rejecting earlier bids of €45m (£38.5m) and around €60m (£51m) last week. ESPN reports an agreement in principle on a €76.5m (£65.3m) total package, with the clubs "exchanging paperwork" and Rodri expected in Barcelona "in the coming days", possibly to be presented before Wednesday's Joan Gamper Trophy. Neither club has confirmed the move; contract length was not reported.

Why City sold

Rodri, 30, had one year left on his contract and made clear he wanted a return to Spain. City were reluctant sellers but faced losing him for nothing next summer (Guardian). He only returned to the club on Friday after back surgery following the World Cup. Enzo Maresca called him a "top player" after the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal but could not persuade him to sign a new deal.

Legacy and replacements

Seven seasons, four Premier League titles, the winner in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter and the 2024 Ballon d'Or (Guardian). City have spent £116m on Elliot Anderson, agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah, are closing in on Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and retain interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernández.

City open the 2026/27 Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August. See the Premier League hub.

Sources: The Guardian, ESPN (16 August 2026). This story will be updated once the clubs confirm.