Barcelona have signed Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City for on a four-year deal for a fee which could rise to �65.3million. Barca failed with offers of �38.5m and �51m for the 30-year-old earlier this month but had a third bid accepted on Sunday, with the midfielder in the final year of his contract at the Premier League club.The Spain captain scored the winner when City won the Champions League in 2023 and won the Ballon dOr in the process.He said: What we have done together in these years is something both very special and unforgettable. These seven years have been incredible. I have cherished every moment of what we achieved together and will always carry Manchester City in my heart.Table of ContentsRodri: Why Barcelona have signed Spain skipperHow Madrid may have influenced Barca signing RodriRodri stats: Manchester City, Spain trophiesWhen will Rodri play for Barcelona?Rodri: Why Barcelona have signed Spain skipperThe 2024 Ballon dOr winner was named player of the tournament at the World Cup 2026, helping La Roja win the title for the second time.Following the end of Pep Guardiolas transformative 10-year reign at City, Rodris seven-year spell at the club became increasingly uncertain with his contract approaching expiry.Barca are renowned for pressing high under Hansi Flick and Rodris ability to dictate play through the centre of the pitch should allow the reigning champions to pursue their cavalier style even more effectively as they target a third consecutive Liga title under the German and Champions League glory for the first time since 2015.One of their key midfielders, Frenkie de Jong, suffered a serious knee injury while representing the Netherlands at the World Cup.Rodri reportedly wanted a deal last week to avoid having to fly back to Manchester after house-hunting in Catalonia, but the former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal player rejoined his City teammates on Friday to enable City medics to assess his fitness following a minor back operation.New City head coach Enzo Maresca did not include Rodri in his matchday squad for the 3-0 defeat to Premier League holders Arsenal in the Community Shield in Cardiff on Sunday.How Madrid may have influenced Barca signing RodriMadrid were widely reported to have held unsuccessful initial talks with Rodri in July. Rodris agent, Pablo Barquero, told Cadena SER radio in August that the player had informed Madrid he preferred to pursue talks with Barcelona.Madrids interest in Rodri under new head coach Jose Mourinho may have concerned Barca, with some experts suggesting part of the motive for the deal is to stop last seasons runners-up from recruiting one of the finest players in the world.At Real Madrid, he would have revolutionised the team and improved the whole club, former Blancos boss Jorge Valdano told Movistar Plus Deportes (via Marca).For me, Rodri is worth 35m (�30m) to Barca for what he would contribute and 40m (�34.2m) to Real Madrid.Rodri stats: Manchester City, Spain trophiesIn July 2019, City paid Rodris �62.6m release clause at Atleti, where he had won the Super Cup in 2018.Six years later, Rodri was a four-time Premier League champion and had won the 2022/23 Champions League including the Player of the Season accolade in the competition and the FA Cup once and EFL Cup twice.City won the Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2023 and added the FA Cup and EFL Cup again during Rodris final season, although they finished second to Arsenal in the top flight.The Cityzens title defence nose-dived in 2024/25 after Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in a home game against the Gunners in September.The succession of physical issues Rodri has faced over the last three seasons missing a total of 84 matches for club and country across that period has coincided with Citys supremacy in England tailing off.A EURO Under-19 champion in 2015, Rodri has won the 2022/23 Nations League and was the Player of the Tournament as Spain prevailed at EURO 2024.New club teammate Pau Cubarsi was a distant second to Rodri in open-play passing at the World Cup 2026, finishing 112 behind him.Fellow Barcelona player Pedri was the only player to attempt more passes in the final third. Here are some of Rodris key stats from that campaign.TotalRankMinutes7266thOpen-play passes7111stSuccessful open-play passes7561stSuccessful final-third passes2041stCarries1891stProgressive carries1112ndWhen will Rodri play for Barcelona?Heres how Barcelonas first four fixtures of the 2026/27 season look.DateOpponentsBSTETPTSun, Aug 23Elche (A)20:3015:3012:30Thurs, Aug 27Athletic Club (H)20:0015:0012:00Mon, Aug 31Rayo Vallecano (H)20:3015:3012:30Sun, Sept 6Valencia (A)20:0015:0012:00 Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Atletico Madrid Carabao Cup EFL Cup FA Cup FC Barcelona FIFA Club World Cup Hansi Flick Jose Mourinho LaLiga Manchester City F.C. Pep Guardiola Premier League Real Madrid CF Rodri Spain National Football Team Villarreal CF World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Barcelona v Al Ahly Line-ups, stats and preview 101 GreatGoals 18th August, 2026 Premier League predictions: Title winners? Top four? Biggest surprise and biggest flop? Jon Fisher 18th August, 2026 Im one of you, I always have been Mourinho revels in Madrid reunion at official presentation Nicholas McGee 18th August, 2026 Rooney identifies no-brainer signing for Man United after worrying pre-season performance Nicholas McGee 18th August, 2026 Fantasy Premier League 2026/27: Five budget options to separate your team from the crowd Blake Hurst 18th August, 2026 Its crystal clear Simeone adamant Alvarez will stay at Atletico Nicholas McGee 18th August, 2026
