Rodri to wear No. 16 at Barcelona after reported €76.5 million move

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign Rodri from Manchester City for a reported €76.5 million, and the Spain midfielder is due to arrive in Catalonia later today for a medical tomorrow before being unveiled at the Camp Nou after the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Hilal.

The club and Manchester City struck the deal in principle, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Barcelona will assign Rodri the No. 16 shirt; the number became available after internal squad changes and was requested by the player during contract talks. Rodri specifically asked to wear the No. 16 during discussions with Fermín López over recent days, Romano added.

Rodri has worn the No. 16 since joining Manchester City from Atlético Madrid in 2019, a shirt he also carried for Spain while hoisting the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy one month ago. The number is therefore closely associated with him from both his Manchester City career and his international appearances.

Fermín López is expected to move to the No. 7 shirt at Barcelona, freeing No. 16; that No. 7 vacancy followed Ferran Torres’ departure to Paris Saint‑Germain. Fermín had previously worn No. 16 at Barcelona before the reported number switch.

According to Romano’s report and accompanying social post, "Rodri has asked to wear number 16 at Barcelona during his conversations with Fermín López over recent days. Fermín, set to switch to number 7 so Rodri will mantain his iconic 16." The club plans to honour that request as part of the finalisation of the transfer.

The transfer arrangement includes Rodri undergoing a medical at Barcelona’s facilities tomorrow and an official presentation scheduled at the Camp Nou after the Joan Gamper Trophy fixture versus Al Hilal. Those steps complete the confirmed immediate timeline for the signing.