FC Barcelona have officially confirmed the return of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo to Camp Nou on a contract running until the end of June 2029.
The Spanish champions completed all required formalities on Thursday afternoon, August 20, finalizing the deal for the versatile fullback who can play on either the right or left side of defense depending on team needs.
Cancelo previously spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan in Catalonia. During that spell with the club, he helped Barcelona win both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona had long sought to make the move permanent, but negotiations with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli proved difficult. The defender reportedly rebelled at one stage during the talks, making it clear that he could not imagine continuing to play in Saudi Arabia.
Delayed presentation at Gamper Trophy
Although the two clubs eventually reached an agreement, Barcelona suffered an embarrassing delay during their first attempt to announce the transfer before their annual Joan Gamper Trophy match, which Barcelona won 2-1 against Egyptian side Al Ahly.
Cancelo was dressed in the Barcelona kit and ready to step onto the pitch to greet supporters when the club realized they had failed to complete the required paperwork in time. A leaked video showed the defender returning from the tunnel and shrugging his shoulders helplessly as teammates asked what had happened.
FC Barcelona, known as the Blaugrana, are one of the leading football clubs in Spain, competing in La Liga and hosting the Joan Gamper Trophy as their annual pre-season match. Al-Ahli are based in Jeddah and compete in the Saudi Pro League, where several high-profile international players have relocated in recent seasons.
Opening La Liga fixture
With the administrative issues resolved and the contract signed, Barcelona are turning their focus to the inauguration of the 2026/27 domestic league season. While several La Liga teams have already started their campaign, Barcelona will open their season this coming weekend.
The Catalan team will play away against Elche on Sunday, September 23, with kickoff set for 21:30.
