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 agreement with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
This move marks a return to the Catalan capital for the Portugal international, who previously spent time on loan at the club during the 2023/24 campaign. During that stint, he played a key role in helping Hansi Flick’s squad successfully defend their La Liga title. Throughout his career, Cancelo has gained extensive experience across Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and he notably joined Manchester City in 2019 before subsequent loan spells at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Cancelo joins a list of summer arrivals at the club that includes Rodri, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi. The team remains in the market for a new striker following the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. While Barcelona had targeted Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, they are now exploring alternative options after the Rojiblancos blocked the Argentina international’s departure.
Hansi Flick is now preparing his squad for their opening La Liga fixture, which sees them travel to face Elche this Sunday. 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.
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