JUBILATION IN Barcelona As João Cancelo has joined Barcelona on LOAN until the end of the season Done Deal with option to buy
Joao Cancelo has successfully completed his medical examination at Barcelona before finalizing a temporary transfer from Al Hilal that will last until the end of the current season.
The Portuguese defender is scheduled for an official unveiling on Tuesday, marking his comeback to a team where he previously played during the 2023/24 season.
Cancelo joins as a seasoned addition to Hansi Flick’s squad during a period when Barcelona are dealing with injury setbacks and roster constraints.
The 31-year-old previously spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City, featuring in 42 matches across various competitions. He recorded four goals and provided five assists while demonstrating his adaptability at both left-back and right-back positions.
Barcelona chose not to make his stay permanent that summer due to financial limitations and strategic planning for the squad’s future composition.
In August 2024, Cancelo transferred to Al-Hilal for approximately €25 million, bringing his five-year tenure at Manchester City to a close. However, his stint in Saudi Arabia has been disappointing, with only two league appearances this season.
Barcelona have acted swiftly to secure his return to European football through a winter loan deal as they aim to sustain their strong performance in league and cup competitions.
The transfer has been made possible through La Liga’s regulations that permit salary cap exceptions for long-term injuries. Defender Andreas Christensen is facing roughly four months on the sidelines following a partial ACL tear suffered in December.
Barcelona are allowed to utilize up to 80 percent of the injured player’s wage allocation to bring in a replacement, provided they inform La Liga within 25 days of the injury—a requirement they fulfilled to enable Cancelo’s registration.
Although Cancelo isn’t a traditional centre-back, his ability to play multiple positions offers Flick crucial defensive flexibility.
Barcelona currently lead La Liga and recently captured the Spanish Super Cup with a triumph over Real Madrid on Sunday. Cancelo previously earned three Premier League championships with Manchester City.
The defender will now aim to rebuild his career and make an impact across several competitions. Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures include a Copa del Rey match against Racing de Santander before resuming league duties against Real Sociedad.
Having already secured one trophy this season, the club believes Cancelo’s presence can help maintain their momentum in all competitions.
