Joao Cancelo Rejoins Barcelona on Permanent Three-Year Deal

Joao Cancelo has returned to Barcelona on a permanent three-year contract after his agreement with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal was ended by mutual consent. The 32-year-old Portugal full-back was a free agent before completing the move, which begins his third spell at the Catalan club but his first as a permanent Barcelona player.

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BBC Sport reported that Cancelo signed for Al-Hilal from Manchester City on a three-year deal in 2024. He finished last season on loan at Barcelona, making 23 appearances as Hansi Flick's team won the La Liga title, before becoming available this summer following his departure from the Saudi club.

Cancelo described returning to Barcelona as his dream and said he is at the club where he wants to be. He added that he identifies with Barcelona, feels loved there and intends to give everything for the team. His new agreement keeps him at Camp Nou for the next three seasons.

The move continues a career that has taken Cancelo through several of Europe's leading leagues. He first arrived in Spain with Valencia in 2014 after leaving Benfica, initially on loan. A temporary spell at Inter Milan followed in the 2017-18 season, before permanent transfers to Juventus in 2018 and Manchester City in 2019.

While contracted to City, Cancelo spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich. He then joined Barcelona on a season-long loan for 2023-24. After moving to Al-Hilal, he returned to Barcelona on loan last season and helped the club reclaim the Spanish championship.

Cancelo joins a Barcelona squad that has undergone several notable changes this summer. BBC Sport also reported that the club completed the signing of Spain midfielder Rodri from Manchester City this week for about £65 million, while wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have also arrived. Ferran Torres has moved to Paris Saint-Germain, and Robert Lewandowski has joined Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.