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Spain’s World Cup-winning captain signs until 2030 after seven trophy-filled years at Manchester City and says he is ready for a fresh challenge

Spain captain Rodri Hernández, 30, completed his high-profile move from Manchester City to Barcelona on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, signing a contract with the La Liga champions until 2030 and bringing an extended summer transfer saga to an end.

Barcelona confirmed the agreement on Tuesday after reaching a deal with Manchester City on Sunday, with a source from the Premier League club telling AFP that the transfer could rise to €76.5 million, including bonuses.

Rodri arrived in the Catalan capital on Monday to finalise personal terms before being formally unveiled by Barcelona the following day.

The Spain midfielder said he was eager to begin a new chapter after seven decorated years at Manchester City.

“I’m very happy and excited about this new stage in my career,” Rodri said during his unveiling.

“It’s a fresh challenge, a chance to experience new things and feel that excitement again.”

The Rodri Barcelona move concludes one of the most closely watched transfer stories of the summer, with Barcelona making two unsuccessful bids before eventually reaching an agreement with City.

Rodri’s decision also represents a significant career shift.

The former Atlético Madrid and Villarreal midfielder had reportedly been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but ultimately chose their fierce La Liga rivals.

His arrival gives Barcelona one of Europe’s most accomplished central midfielders and adds further experience to a squad seeking domestic success while rebuilding its challenge for the Champions League.

Despite Barcelona’s recent dominance of Spanish football, the club has not won Europe’s premier club competition since 2015, when Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez spearheaded the side to its fifth Champions League triumph.

Rodri made no secret of his ambitions at his new club.

“It’s a pleasure to be at Barca. I’ll give 100 percent of everything I have,” he said.

“I’m here to compete for everything, for big things like the Champions League.”

The midfielder added that Barcelona’s ambition appealed strongly to him.

“I’ve come to a hugely ambitious club that really suits my personality, so I’ll try to help in every way I can to achieve our objectives this season.”

The move comes after a difficult period physically for Rodri, who has dealt with injuries during the past two seasons.

His quality remained evident on the international stage, however, as he played a prominent role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign in North America last month.

Rodri will also find several familiar faces inside Barcelona’s dressing room. Spain teammates Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo are already established members of the squad, potentially easing his transition into the new environment.

He will also work alongside new arrivals Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, who joined Barcelona during the summer.

Rodri’s relationship with his new manager, Hansi Flick, will be another important element of the move.

The midfielder worked closely with Pep Guardiola during his Manchester City years and became one of the Catalan coach’s most trusted players. Rodri said Flick’s different approach could provide another valuable stage in his development.

“(Flick has) a style that I think is somewhat different from what I’ve experienced before, so it will be enriching and help me grow as a player,” Rodri said.

His departure brings an emotional end to a remarkable Manchester City spell.

Rodri joined City from Atlético Madrid in 2019 and developed into one of the central figures of Guardiola’s successful era at the Etihad Stadium.

During seven seasons, he helped City win 12 major trophies, including four Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League crown in 2023.

His importance to City’s midfield was underlined by his ability to control matches, dictate tempo and provide decisive moments in major games.

Reflecting on his departure, Rodri expressed pride in what he achieved with the English champions.

“I am leaving the club with a huge sense of pride about what we have achieved and gratitude too for so many amazing memories,” he said in a statement published by Manchester City.

“What we have done together in these years is something both very special and unforgettable.”

For Barcelona, the arrival of a World Cup-winning captain represents an ambitious statement about the club’s intention to compete for the biggest prizes again.

For Rodri, it is an opportunity to experience a different footballing culture, work under Flick and pursue the Champions League trophy that Barcelona have been chasing since 2015.

After years of success in Manchester, the midfielder now begins what could be one of the most significant and exciting chapters of his career in Catalonia.

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Finally, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have conquered Africa, defeating Malawi 3–0 to win their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in a historic final in Rabat.

The victory on Sunday, August 16, ended Cameroon’s long wait for the continental crown after three previous unsuccessful appearances in the WAFCON final.

Cameroon had previously reached the final in 2004, 2014 and 2016, losing all three times to Nigeria. The Indomitable Lionesses had also failed to score in each of those three title deciders.

But there was no heartbreak this time.

Cameroon produced a devastating first-half performance at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, scoring three times to effectively settle the contest before the interval.

Marie Ngah opened the scoring before doubling her tally, while Naomi Ndjoah Eto scored the other goal to give Cameroon a commanding 3–0 advantage at half-time.

The second half produced no further goals as Cameroon comfortably protected their advantage to lift the trophy for the first time.

The triumph also made Cameroon the fourth different nation to win the WAFCON, joining record champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in the competition’s roll of honour.

The achievement was particularly significant given the circumstances of Cameroon’s qualification for the expanded 2026 tournament. CAF increased the competition from 12 to 16 teams, with Cameroon among four additional nations selected to complete the field after the original qualification process.

Once given the opportunity, however, the Indomitable Lionesses seized it spectacularly.

Their route to the title included a 1–0 quarter-final victory over defending champions Nigeria and a dramatic semi-final triumph over hosts Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw.

For Malawi, the final marked the end of an extraordinary debut campaign rather than a failure.

The Scorchers became the first Southern African team to reach the WAFCON final on their tournament debut. They secured their place in the decider after defeating Algeria 3–1 in the semi-final.

CAF’s pre-final statistics had highlighted the remarkable nature of Malawi’s run. The Scorchers had scored 12 goals before the final — the highest tally of any team at that stage — while Cameroon had conceded only two goals throughout their campaign.

Cameroon’s historic triumph therefore represents more than a first continental title. It is the culmination of years of near-misses and final disappointments, finally replaced by a commanding performance on the biggest stage.

The Indomitable Lionesses have now written Cameroon into the select group of nations that have lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

And they did it emphatically — with three goals, a clean sheet and a historic first crown.

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Arsenal have sent an early warning to their Premier League rivals after defeating Manchester City 3-0 to lift the Community Shield in impressive fashion.

The Gunners took control almost immediately, with Riccardo Calafiori scoring after just 24 seconds to register the quickest Community Shield goal since 1968.

The early strike set the tone for a one-sided encounter, as Arsenal dominated possession, pressed aggressively and kept City under sustained pressure.
Calafiori’s opener came after Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a superb pass behind the City defence, allowing the Italian defender to finish confidently.
Arsenal continued to dictate proceedings, with Bruno Guimarães making an eye-catching debut following his £75 million move from Newcastle United.

His physical presence and combination with Lewis-Skelly helped Arsenal control the midfield and allowed captain Martin Ødegaard greater freedom to influence the game.
City struggled to match Arsenal’s intensity, and the Gunners doubled their advantage when Ødegaard delivered a dangerous ball towards the back post. Christos Tzolis headed it back across goal, allowing Kai Havertz to finish from close range.
Arsenal completed the rout shortly after half-time.

Lewis-Skelly and Tzolis combined again before Ødegaard broke into the penalty area, rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma and calmly slotted the ball home to make it 3-0.

The victory will provide Arsenal with a major confidence boost ahead of the new Premier League campaign, while their performance highlighted the quality and depth of their revamped squad.

For City, the defeat exposed several weaknesses and offered an early reminder that Arsenal could be among the strongest contenders for the Premier League title this season.

With the Community Shield now secured, Arsenal will head into the league campaign with renewed confidence and a statement victory over one of their biggest rivals.