Barcelona Set to Sign João Cancelo as He Terminates Contract with Al Hilal

Barcelona is poised to secure the signing of João Cancelo for the third time, as the full-back has agreed to terminate his contract with Al Hilal, a source confirmed to ESPN. The 32-year-old will join the Spanish champions as a free agent after previously completing two loan spells at the club during the 2023-24 season and again last season.

Cancelo will become Barcelona’s fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu. However, the club is still expected to pursue additional signings, including Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, or another forward option, along with the potential addition of a center-back.

After a 5-2 friendly victory over Basel, coach Hansi Flick indicated that there may be more transfers ahead. “We will see what happens, but it could be that we are still lacking something,” Flick stated. Cancelo, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona, expressed his desire to make a permanent return to Spotify Camp Nou.

This latest move became feasible after Cancelo reached an agreement for an early contract termination with Al Hilal, where he had played since 2024. This will mark the first time Cancelo officially signs for Barcelona, despite his previous loan arrangements.

Cancelo’s career has seen him play for various top clubs, including Benfica, Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Manchester City starting in 2019. Following a loan with Bayern Munich in 2023, he moved to Barcelona for the 2023-24 season before his stint with Al Hilal. His return to Barcelona last January aided the club in clinching the La Liga title, making him the first player this century to win titles in four of Europe’s top five leagues, which include England, Italy, Germany, and the Primeira Liga in Portugal.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn