Transfer Market Official: João Cancelo Joins Barcelona

It's now official: João Cancelo is a Barcelona player, with a contract valid until 2029. The Portuguese international terminated his contract with Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

This marks Cancelo's third stint with the Catalan club. His first spell was during the 2023/24 season, on loan from Manchester City, under the management of Xavi Hernández. During that period, the Portuguese international made 42 appearances, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

Following that initial experience, the player moved to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, before returning to Barça in January 2026, once again on loan. He quickly earned the trust of coach Hansi Flick, establishing himself as a key player in the squad, primarily as a left-back. He concluded the season with 23 games played, two goals, and four assists.

With the signing of a permanent contract, João Cancelo is once again at Hansi Flick's disposal.