Barcelona Secures Joao Cancelo on Loan for Remainder of Season

FC Barcelona is actively seeking defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window and has decided to re-sign former full-back Joao Cancelo, who will be on loan at Camp Nou for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

“Now it’s official: Joao Cancelo is once again a Barca player. FC Barcelona and Al Hilal Saudi FC have reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese full-back until the end of the season. He will wear the number 2 shirt,” read a statement from the club.

The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday at the club’s offices, attended by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, first vice-president Rafael Yuste, board member Joan Soler, and Director of the Football Area Anderson Luis de Souza (Deco), along with the player’s family.

Barcelona had initially announced Cancelo’s return earlier on Tuesday; however, their posts confirming the deal mysteriously disappeared. Reports from Spain, particularly from Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo, indicated that there were still some formalities to be completed between Barcelona and Al Hilal before the deal could be finalized, which prompted the swift deletion of the initial announcement.

Concerns arose among the Barca fanbase regarding the possibility of the deal falling through, given the club’s recent financial challenges. Nevertheless, Barcelona remained confident that the issue was minor and that Cancelo would don their iconic red-and-blue colors once more.