Joao Cancelo is set to complete a permanent transfer to FC Barcelona after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract with Saudi club Al Hilal.
The 32-year-old Portugal defender's return to Camp Nou is already settled and expected to be finalised within the next few days, according to reporter Matteo Moretto of Spanish newspaper Marca. Cancelo reached a mutual agreement with his Saudi employer to end his contract early.
The deal will mark Cancelo's third spell with the Catalan club. He spent the spring round of the season on loan at Barcelona from Al Hilal, making 16 appearances in all competitions while scoring two goals and providing three assists. Al Hilal contracted the Portuguese international in the summer of 2024 and wanted to keep him in their squad, but all indications point to his permanent return to Barcelona.
Cancelo previously joined Barcelona on loan from English Premier League side Manchester City in September 2023. During that initial 2023-24 campaign, the defender played a full season for the Spanish club, featuring in 32 matches while recording two goals and four assists.
Barcelona transfer targets
Barcelona's move for Cancelo comes as club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco seek reinforcements across multiple positions during the summer transfer window. The earlier arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi did not satisfy Laporta's appetite for new signings, leading the club to pursue further high-profile deals.
Laporta has been attempting to secure Argentine forward Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid and Spanish midfielder Rodri from Manchester City. However, negotiations for Alvarez have dragged on without resolution, while efforts to sign Rodri may progress faster but have yet to reach an official conclusion. Faced with those difficulties, Laporta and Deco turned their attention to reinforcing other areas of the squad.
Left-back competition at Camp Nou
If the transfer move is confirmed as expected, Cancelo will return to Camp Nou to bolster Barcelona's defense. The Portuguese defender will face competition to secure a spot in the team's starting line-up, where he will compete with Spanish left-back Alejandro Balde.
