João cancelo is returning to Barcelona. This time on a free transfer and a two-year deal

Barcelona are turning to João Cancelo once again. The Portuguese defender already knows the club, the dressing room, the city and probably the route to Joan Laporta’s office better than some new employees. This time, however, it will not be another loan. Cancelo has terminated his contract with Al-Hilal and is expected to sign a two-year deal with Barcelona as a free agent.

Fabrizio Romano delivered his customary “here we go” on Sunday evening. According to the Italian journalist, an agreement has been reached to terminate Cancelo’s contract with Al-Hilal. The player has been authorised to travel to Barcelona at the beginning of the week, having already agreed all the terms of his new contract.

Fernando Polo of “Mundo Deportivo” has also confirmed the development. Barcelona expect Cancelo to sign on Tuesday, with the agreement set to run for two seasons. A medical examination, the signatures and the club’s official announcement are therefore the remaining steps.

The most important detail concerns the structure of the transfer. Al-Hilal initially wanted around €10 million for Cancelo but eventually agreed to release him from his contract. Barcelona will consequently not have to pay a transfer fee. Of course, “free” in football still includes a salary, a possible signing bonus and the need to register the player, but avoiding a transfer payment makes the operation considerably easier.

According to “Mundo Deportivo”, several factors led to this outcome. Cancelo was determined to leave Al-Hilal, the Saudi club had an excess of foreign players, and the defender’s relationship with coach Simone Inzaghi was far from ideal. Terminating the contract ultimately became a convenient solution for both sides.

This will be Cancelo’s third spell at Barcelona. He first joined the club on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2023. During the 2023/24 season, he made 42 appearances, scored four goals and registered five assists. His second arrival came in January 2026, when Al-Hilal loaned him to Barcelona for the remainder of the season.

Only a few weeks after that agreement expired, Barcelona have opened the same door again. It is easy to joke that the club are once more signing someone whose number has probably never left Deco’s favourites list, but the move makes sense from a sporting perspective. Cancelo can play on either side of the defence, already understands Hansi Flick’s demands and will not require several months to adapt.

The Portuguese international had made no secret of his desire to remain at Barcelona. He also recently posted a photograph of himself wearing a Barça shirt on social media. Subtlety was apparently unnecessary, but his confidence has proved justified.

Barcelona have not officially announced the signing yet. At this stage, there is an agreement between the parties, Cancelo’s terminated Al-Hilal contract and Romano’s “here we go”. If everything proceeds as planned, the club will welcome back a player who has already returned to Barcelona more often than some supporters have returned to Spotify Camp Nou.