Barcelona have bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of Joao Cancelo on a free transfer. The club confirmed on Thursday that the 32-year-old full-back has signed a contract running until June 30, 2029, after terminating his deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
Cancelo is no stranger to the Catalan giants, having previously completed two loan spells at the club. His most recent stint during the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign proved instrumental in helping Hansi Flick’s squad successfully defend their La Liga title. Before his move to Al Hilal in 2024, the Portuguese international gained extensive experience across Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and notably joined Manchester City in 2019, with additional loan time spent at Bayern Munich.
The defender joins a list of summer arrivals at Camp Nou that includes Rodri, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi. Barcelona remain in the market for a new striker following the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. While the club previously targeted Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, they are now exploring alternative options after the Rojiblancos blocked the Argentine’s departure.
Hansi Flick’s team is set to kick off their new La Liga campaign this Sunday with an away fixture against Elche. The report also notes that the full-back arrives as a free agent and signs on until June 30, 2029,” said Barca in a statement.
