Barcelona have completed the signing of Rodri from Manchester City in a deal worth £65.4m, with the Spain midfielder committing to a four-year contract at the LaLiga club.

The 30-year-old, who claimed the Ballon d'Or and a World Cup winner's medal with Spain, departs the Etihad Stadium having helped City lift four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League during his seven years in Manchester.

Rodri had one year remaining on his City contract, and while the club pushed for an extension, Barcelona's persistence ultimately prevailed. The Catalan side had two earlier bids — of £40m and £55m — rejected before a third offer sealed the agreement.

City's search for replacements

Manager Enzo Maresca now faces the challenge of replacing both Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders, the latter expected to join Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah for around £51m.

City remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez despite missing the August 14 deadline to submit a formal bid. They are also in active talks with Lille over Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Lille's head coach Davide Ancelotti confirming negotiations at the weekend. Lille are believed to be seeking around £85m for the midfielder.

The scale of City's loss

Statistics from Rodri's time at City — since his arrival from Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2019/20 season — lay bare how dependent the club have been on him. In the 87 matches he missed from the starting line-up, City suffered 20 defeats, one fewer than the 21 losses they recorded across 179 games with him starting — meaning their defeat rate effectively doubled in his absence.

Their win percentage dropped from 71.5 percent with Rodri in the side to 62.1 percent without him, while goals scored fell and goals conceded rose. A 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal served as the most recent reminder of how much City rely on their departing talisman.

Rodri's farewell to City fans

In an open letter published on Manchester City's official website, Rodri said goodbye to supporters with characteristic warmth and reflection.