Barcelona Football Club has secured the return of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, concluding a transfer window that was almost derailed by a dramatic and public administrative error.
The 31-year-old’s move, confirmed after a successful medical examination, marks his second stint with the Catalan giants and is viewed as a crucial piece of squad management by sporting director Deco.
The transfer process was far from smooth. In a striking display of institutional miscommunication, Barcelona’s media team prematurely announced Cancelo’s signing on Tuesday, posting photos of the player signing his contract across official social media channels and the club website, only to delete all traces of the announcement minutes later.
This sudden retraction sparked immediate confusion and concern among fans, with fears of a failed medical or collapsed deal. Sources within the club clarified that the reason was bureaucratic, not dramatic.
The announcement was made before the final exchange of documentation, including the crucial International Transfer Certificate (ITC), between the Spanish and Saudi Arabian football federations was complete. “The operation is sealed,” sources assured, calling it “only a matter of time” before formalisation.
The financial structure of the deal highlights Barcelona’s continued economic constraints. The move was facilitated by a long-term injury to defender Andreas Christensen, who suffered an ACL tear in December.
La Liga rules permitted Barcelona to utilise 80% of the Danish international’s salary to register a replacement, providing the necessary financial space to bring in Cancelo without breaching the league’s strict spending limits. Sporting director Deco emphasised the opportunistic and strategic nature of the signing, noting the player’s personal desire to return.
“It happened by chance, because he has an agreement that allows him to leave his club, and because he is a player who has always dreamed of coming to Barça,” Deco stated. “Whenever he has come, he has even adjusted his salary, and it fits perfectly with what we can do here”.
For manager Hansi Flick, Cancelo’s versatility offers immediate tactical relief. Primarily a right-back, the Portuguese international is equally adept on the left, providing cover and competition for Alejandro Balde.
His arrival allows Jules Koundé, who has often played out of position at right-back, to move into his preferred centre-back role, bolstering a defensive line depleted by the departures of Iñigo Martínez and Ronald Araújo’s absence. “Cancelo gives us more solutions that we did not have before,” Deco explained, framing the signing as a targeted move for quality over quantity in the winter window.
The return to Barcelona also carries significant weight for Cancelo’s international prospects with Portugal ahead of the upcoming World Cup, making regular top-level football imperative. Having spent the first half of the 2025-26 season with Al-Hilal, where reports suggested a strained relationship with manager Simone Inzaghi, the move represents a critical reset.
Cancelo himself hinted at the tumultuous period on social media ahead of the transfer, posting, “Imagine how many people dislike you because they didn’t hear your side of the story”.
Now with the paperwork finally settled and the player officially registered, Barcelona hopes the focus can return to the pitch, where Cancelo’s creative flair from deep is expected to inject new dynamism into their campaign.