Man City face midfield overhaul after £65m Rodri sale

Manchester City have accepted Barcelona’s £65.4 million bid for Spain’s World Cup‑winning captain Rodri, leaving a void in the Etihad midfield that must be filled before the transfer deadline. The club now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement to maintain its tactical balance and compete on multiple fronts.

Barcelona had previously submitted two offers for Rodri; the first of £38.4 million was deemed not serious, while the third matched City’s valuation, prompting the Etihad to accept the deal.

The man in question, Rodri, had been reluctant to sign a new contract, entered the final year of his deal, meaning City risked losing him on a free transfer if the summer sale did not materialise.

Search for a midfield successor

City have only two weeks left to secure a replacement. They have identified Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Lille manager Davide Ancelotti confirming talks, and are also monitoring Enzo Fernandez, although Chelsea set a Friday deadline for bids that City missed.

City manager Enzo Maresca said, “All teams need a player like Rodri.” He added on Bouaddi, “He’s still a Lille player. But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it’s better.”

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Midfield overhaul and financial moves

This summer the club broke its transfer record by paying £116 million for Elliot Anderson, while former captain Bernardo Silva departed for Real Madrid and a £51 million sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah is imminent.

Rodri arrived in 2019 as a club‑record £61 million signing. He made 298 appearances, scoring 28 goals, including the decisive strike in the 2023 Champions League final, and collected 11 trophies, four Premier League titles and the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

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City are in a race to rebuild their midfield before the transfer deadline, a pressure amplified by the recent 3‑0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal and the need to replace Rodri promptly.