Manchester City lost a lot more than just the Community Shield (3-0 to Arsenal in Cardiff) on Sunday. Their midfield maestro and team captain, Rodri, is set to join FC Barcelona. After a long, protracted transfer saga, the Spaniard is returning to his home country.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Mundo Deportivo and numerous other reputable media outlets in Spain, Man City have finally reached an agreement, and accepted a bid from Barcelona.
🚨🔵🔴 EXCLUSIVE: RODRI TO BARCELONA, HERE WE GO! 💥
Deal agreed for Spanish midfielder to join Barça from Man City, all done for the former Ballon d’Or.
Green light from Man City to last Barcelona bid.
More follows. 💣 pic.twitter.com/ECs2v6HIHX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 16, 2026
He is now set to fly to Catalonia to undergo his medical and sign the new contract. It is hoped that Rodri will be available for the Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Al Ahly SC on Wednesday night.
According to Victor Navarro of COPE, the final transfer fee is €65 million ($75.2m) up front, plus a potential €5 million ($5.8m) more in incentive based add-ons.
Closure is finally upon us, for a transfer saga that covered both sides of the El Clasico rivalry. Earlier this summer, Rodri was strongly linked with Real Madrid. As for City, their winning percentage in recent years has certainly correlated, up and down, with the availability of Rodri.
So he will most certainly be missed.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.