Officially... Barcelona sign Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal after the documents controversy
FC Barcelona announced today (Tuesday) the end of the controversy that accompanied the past few hours, confirming the official signing of veteran Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo, on loan from Saudi club Al-Hilal, to strengthen the team during the current winter transfer window.
Behind the scenes of the sensational hours and the missing document
The deal was marred by a brief administrative drama, as the Catalan club initially announced the transfer before abruptly deleting all related posts from its official platforms and website without warning. Reliable press reports revealed that this confusion stemmed from Al-Hilal's request for an additional document to guarantee the club's rights at the last minute—a routine procedure in the modern transfer market to ensure the legality of contracts. This necessitated postponing the official announcement until all the paperwork was completed.
Details of the return and the number 2 jersey
In its latest and decisive statement, the Catalan club announced: “Portuguese star João Cancelo returns to FC Barcelona on loan until the end of the season, arriving from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, and will wear the number 2 jersey.” The official signing ceremony took place at the club's offices in the presence of the Barça hierarchy, including President Joan Laporta, First Vice-President Rafael Yuste, board member Joan Soler, Sporting Director Anderson Luis de Sousa (Deco), and the player's family, reflecting the great importance the management attaches to this deal.
A remarkable career and tactical importance
Cancelo's return is of paramount importance to Barcelona's coaching staff, given his exceptional tactical versatility and ability to play at both right and left back, in addition to his effective attacking contributions. The Portuguese defender previously wore the Blaugrana jersey during the 2023-2024 season on loan from Manchester City, where he firmly established himself with the Catalan fans.
During his first stint, Cancelo made 42 official appearances (32 in La Liga and 10 in the Champions League), scoring four goals and providing five assists, proving himself a lethal attacking option from deep. This return is intended to bolster Barcelona's ambitions of competing for domestic and continental titles, leveraging the player's extensive experience gained in Europe's top five leagues.
Crescent Station and International Expertise
After his initial loan spell ended on June 30, 2024, Cancelo moved to the Saudi Professional League, joining Al-Hilal. During his season and a half with the Asian giants, he maintained his fitness and competitive edge, making 45 appearances, which meant he was ready to immediately adapt to Barcelona's style of play without needing a lengthy preseason.
