Barcelona Secures Rodri's Transfer from Manchester City Until 2030
Rodri Joins Barcelona FC
Barcelona, Spain - On August 18, FC Barcelona officially announced the acquisition of Spanish midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, commonly referred to as Rodri, from Manchester City. The 2024 Ballon d'Or recipient has signed a contract with the Catalan club that extends until the summer of 2030.
The 30-year-old midfielder arrives at Barcelona after a successful six-year stint at Manchester City, where he became recognized as one of the top defensive midfielders globally under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. The transfer fee is reported to be around £65.4 million (approximately $88.56 million).
In a statement, Barcelona confirmed, “FC Barcelona and Manchester City have reached an agreement for the transfer of Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, known in the football world as Rodri, who is committing to the Catalan club until June 30, 2030.”
Rodri's transition to Barcelona follows a challenging period marked by injuries that sidelined him for a significant portion of the previous season. He recently underwent minor back surgery and had previously spent over seven months recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in 2024, in addition to dealing with knee and hamstring issues last season.
Despite these challenges, Rodri is celebrated as one of the most accomplished midfielders in football. Since his transfer from Atletico Madrid to Manchester City in 2019, he has played a pivotal role in securing four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 2023.
Rodri notably scored the crucial goal in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan, which marked Manchester City's first European title and contributed to their historic European Treble.
His individual accolades are impressive as well; Rodri was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2024 after his significant contributions to Spain's Euro 2024 victory.
Recently, he was instrumental in Spain's World Cup-winning campaign, earning the title of the tournament's best player, which further solidified his reputation on the international stage.
Barcelona emphasized Rodri's game management skills and tactical acumen as key reasons for his signing.
“Rodri developed through the youth system at Atletico Madrid but completed his training at Villarreal, where he made his debut in La Liga,” the club noted.
He made his senior debut for Villarreal before returning to Atletico in 2018. After one season under Diego Simeone, he transferred to Manchester City in 2019.
Barcelona also commended his composure and passing skills, highlighting his ability to “control the tempo of games” while contributing defensively and offensively.
This signing enhances Barcelona's midfield depth as the club aims to build around a player with vast experience in both club and international football.
Rodri's arrival is seen as a significant achievement for Barcelona, who reportedly outmaneuvered Real Madrid in the race for his signature.