Barcelona have secured the signing of defender Joao Cancelo on a free transfer, officially confirming the acquisition on Thursday. The Portugal international will be contracted with the Spanish champions until June 30, 2029.
Cancelo ended his tenure with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal to facilitate this move back to Camp Nou. The 32-year-old full-back is no stranger to the Catalan side, having spent two loan spells at Barcelona, including the latter half of last season. During that period, he played a key role under coach Hansi Flick in helping Barca defend their La Liga crown.
Experienced Defender Returns to Strengthen Barca’s Backline
Before his recent stint in Saudi Arabia, Cancelo’s career included playing across top European leagues, featuring clubs in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, before making a significant move to Manchester City in 2019. Throughout the 2023/24 season, he was loaned out first to Bayern Munich and then to Barcelona, showcasing his versatility and defensive skills.
This summer, Cancelo joins other newcomers such as Rodri, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi as Barcelona bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign. Despite these additions, the club remains in search of a striker to fill the void left by the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
Barcelona had initially targeted Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez as a potential signing, but the move stalled after Atletico declined to release the Argentina international. Consequently, Barca is now exploring alternative options to strengthen their attacking line.
With these reinforcements, Hansi Flick’s squad is set to kick off their La Liga season away at Elche this Sunday, aiming to build on last season’s success.