Man City smash transfer record with £63m deal for midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid

MANCHESTER CITY broken their club transfer record after they agreed to pay Rodri's £63million release clause at Atletico Madrid.

The highly-rated midfielder is Pep Guardiola’s first addition to his Premier League winning squad this summer.

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A holding midfielder has been a priority for the City boss for over a year to help ease the load from 34-year-old Fernandinho.

And now the 23-year-old Spain international will move to the Etihad, a year after his £18m switch to the Wanda Metropolitano from Villarreal.

Atletico confirmed the news on Wednesday after City agreed to exceed the £60m fee they paid Leicester for Riyad Mahrez last summer.

A statement from the Spaniards said: "La Liga has informed Atletico de Madrid that Rodrigo Hernandez, through his lawyer, and representatives from Manchester City, paid the player’s release clause at the sports association’s headquarters on Wednesday, July 3.

"Manchester City has paid the buyout clause on behalf of the player. The player has therefore unilaterally terminated his contract with our club, which ran until June 30, 2023."

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In his one season at the club, Rodri made 34 appearances and earned many plaudits for his humble personality and incredible footballing brain.

City coach Mikel Arteta is already a huge fan of the midfielder dubbed the new “Sergio Busquets.”

He said: “Those who anticipate scenarios, who are mentally stable and who can be a coach in the field — like Xabi Alonso or Xavi Hernandez.”