Spain midfielder Rodri described joining Barcelona as a “dream” after landing in the city to finalise his move from Manchester City.
Barcelona have agreed to pay around £65m for the 30-year-old, who will sign a four-year deal with the La Liga champions.
“I’m very happy to be here. The last few days have been intense, but I’m glad everything is done. Playing for FC Barcelona is a dream,” he told reporters at the airport on Monday. He added that he’s eager to link up with teammates he already knows from the national side and is ready to get to work and give his all.
Rodri said his targets with Barca include winning the Champions League “and everything else that comes our way.”
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner made 298 appearances in seven trophy-filled seasons at City after arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for what was then a club-record £62.8m fee.
A serious knee injury sidelined him for much of the 2024-25 season, and a hamstring issue disrupted parts of the following campaign. He returned to top form at this summer’s World Cup, helping Spain win their second title and earning player of the tournament honors.
Rodri departs City with 12 major trophies: four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups, and the 2022-23 Champions League.
City reportedly turned down Barcelona’s initial £38.5m bid last week, with Rodri entering the final year of his Etihad contract. Although Real Madrid had been considered frontrunners, Barcelona accelerated talks in recent days to complete the signing.