FC Barcelona have officially confirmed the return of João Cancelo to the club on a loan deal that runs until the end of the season.
Earlier reports from Fabrizio Romano indicated that Barcelona will pay a €4 million loan fee to Al-Hilal Riyadh, with Cancelo set to remain at the club until June.
Club Announcement:
João Cancelo once again dons the Barcelona jersey. FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with Saudi club Al-Hilal Riyadh for the Portuguese full-back to join on loan until the end of this season, and he will wear the number 2 shirt next season.
The official signing ceremony was held on Tuesday at Barcelona’s club offices and was attended by club president Joan Laporta, first vice-president Àngel Rangel, board member Rafael Yuste, sporting director Anderson Luiz de Souza (Deco), as well as members of the player’s family.
The Portuguese defender previously enjoyed a short spell at Barcelona during the 2023/24 season, when he joined on loan from Manchester City. During that campaign, Cancelo impressed by making 42 appearances—32 in La Liga and 10 in the Champions League—scoring four goals (two in each competition) and providing five assists.
After the loan ended on June 30, 2024, Cancelo completed a permanent move to Al-Hilal Riyadh. Over the last one and a half seasons with the Saudi club, he has featured in 45 matches.
Even prior to his first spell at Barcelona, the right-back had already built a reputation as one of the game’s top full-backs. Born in Barreiro, Cancelo began his professional career at Benfica, where he won the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
Valencia later brought him to La Liga, where he impressed over three seasons before moving to Serie A. His time with Inter Milan and Juventus further elevated his profile. In the summer of 2019, he joined Manchester City, spending three and a half seasons at the Etihad Stadium, while also enjoying brief loan spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
