The Portuguese defender has made his way back to Barcelona from Al Hilal until the end of the season.
It is now official that Joao Cancelo has joined Barcelona Football Club once again. The Spanish Giants alongside Saudi Professional League club, Al Hilal, reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese player for the remainder of the season.
The Portugal National Team player will wear number two (2) shirt at Camp Nou.
The signing ceremony held on Tuesday 13 January, 2026 at the Catalans office and was attended by Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona, first vice-president Rafael Yuste, board member Joan Soler, and Director of the Football Area Anderson Luis de Souza AKA Deco.
Cancelo confessed, he did not “think twice” when the offer came for his return to the reigning Kings of Spain; and tagged Barcelona “the best club in the world”.
According to the Club’s official website, Cancelo said:
How he feels about Barcelona:
“I didn’t think twice about coming back when the chance came up. I told everyone I would wait for Barça. Representing this Club is an honour, it’s the best in the world.”
He said, he feels “at home” both at Barca and the city of Barcelona; and said, Barcelona is “the only club in the word” to have made him have “goosebumps when signing”.
The defender stated, he wants to “enjoy this team” and “help however I can”.
This is Cancelo’s second spell at Barcelona, he said, “Whoever knows me knows that all my idols played here. What I feel for this club is very special”.
In his first spell at Camp Nou, Cancelo said, he did not win a trophy, but right now, he is focused on winning something.
He said: “I didn’t win a trophy in my first spell and that’s what I want now”.
Also, fielding at the recently upgraded Camp Nou will bring a “unique feeling” the Portuguese has been yearning for.
Playing at Camp Nou, Cancelo said: “It will be a unique feeling. I have been waiting for so long. I might cry, I probably will, because it’s something I wanted for a long time”.
Return to Barcelona:
Previously, the Portugal International flaunted the Barcelona shirt during the 2023/24 season, when he moved on loan from Premier League Club, Manchester City.
During that campaign, Cancelo fielded in forty-two (42) encounter for the Catalans – thirty-two (32) La Liga matches and ten (10) Uefa Champions League games.
He netted four (4) goals in total – two (2) each in the Spanish top flight and the Champions League; he recorded five (5) assists – four (4) and one (1) in the La Liga and Uefa Champions League respectively.
He then moved to Saudi Club, Al Hilal, following the conclusion of his loan deal at Barcelona. He is still an Al Hilal player, and has featured in forty-five (45) matches for the club in one season and a half.
Other Clubs he has played for:
Cancelo played for Portuguese top flight, Primera Liga, club, Benfica, where he carted the league title, a Portuguese Cup, a League Cup, and a Super Cup.
He also played for Spanish Club, Valencia; two (2) clubs in Italy – Inter and Juventus.
In 2019, Cancelo joined Manchester City; and from there to Bayern Munich and Barcelona, both on loan deals.
Photo: Joao Cancelo’s Signing ceremony with Barcelona Football Club President, Joan Laporta, in attendance | X/FC Barcelona
