On the same day that Barcelona win a friendly against Basel 2 – 5, the news comes that Fabrizio Romano has the Catalan club reached a final agreement with Manchester City on the transfer of the 30-year-old recent World Cup winner.
Rodri, who has won the Ballon d’Or for the 2024 season ahead of Vinicius junior to huge protests in the Spanish capital, now gets the chance to continue tormenting the Real Madrid star of Real Madrid. – We write with confidence he is the world’s best football player, he followed up with a World Cup this summer where he from midfield led Spain to World Cup gold, with only a backwards goal. Not surprisingly, he was also named the tournament’s best player.
The plan is for Rodri to be ready for Barcelona’s league start, which is away to Elche on August 23.
Martin Ødegaard is the captain of the best times!
– The 30-year-old will be the biggest signing of the summer, not in total with the effect for football
On Sunday, August 16, 2026, FC Barcelona completed the transfer of Rodri, the Spanish midfield general who is now returning to La Liga after several years at Manchester City. This is without a doubt one of the biggest signings of the summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Catalan club have reached a final agreement with Manchester City on the transfer of the 30-year-old international. A deal that manager Hansi Flick reportedly approved several weeks ago, precisely to give the midfield the weight and experience it needs.
Rodri’s arrival – and Flick’s midfield revolution
Rodri comes in as a top-class defensive midfielder – just what Flick needs to relieve Marc Bernal, while Frenkie de Jong is still out injured.
Rodri will share playing time in midfield with Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Fermín López. A midfield with both muscle, creativity and experience.
The transfer has gone through several rounds of negotiations, but now everything is in place. Rodri returns to Spain after a stint in the Premier League – and becomes the third major signing for Barça this summer, after Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon.
Double signing: João Cancelo also ready
Along with Rodri, Barcelona have also completed the transfer of right-back João Cancelo. The Portuguese has terminated his contract with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia after agreeing personal terms with Barcelona management back in June.
Cancelo has been given the green light to travel to Barcelona within the next 48 hours. The arrival of the two players completes both the defensive and midfield plans that Deco and the Barcelona management have been working on before the start of the season.
Medical tests and presentation
Both Rodri and João Cancelo will undergo the necessary medical tests in Barcelona between Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August.
Once the physical tests are complete, Barcelona will register both players in LaLiga and schedule their official presentation at the club’s facility before the weekend.
One thing is certain: Barcelona has just sent a powerful message to the rest of Spain – and Europe. – You don’t get high odds if you predict Barcelona as La Liga champions this season as well.
Read on English clubs: Erling Haaland top candidate to become new captain at City – but scores too many goals to get the job
