João Cancelo Returns To Barcelona On Loan From Al Hilal For Remainder Of Season

‎Portugal defender, João Cancelo, has returned to Barcelona after the Spanish giants signed the 31-year-old on loan from Saudi club Al Hilal for the remainder of the season

‎Cancelo previously spent a year at Barcelona after joining on loan from Manchester City in 2023, featuring in 32 La Liga matches. The three-time Premier League winner moved to Al Hilal in August 2024.

‎He made 42 appearances for the club, scoring four goals and providing five assists. After spending the last 18 months in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal in a €25m move, he arrives on loan until the end of the season with no option to buy.

‎”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 two shirt,” Barcelona said in a statement on ‌Tuesday.

‎Two hamstring injuries sidelined Cancelo for more than two months last year, but he returned in time ⁠for the Club World Cup, where he played a key part with an assist when Al Hilal knocked out Manchester City 4-3 in the round of 16.

‎Cancelo, who was part of Portugal’s 2018–19 Nations League–winning squad, played a key role in their World Cup qualification with two goals and two assists.

‎Portugal will compete in this year’s tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

‎Meanwhile, LaLiga leaders Barcelona travel to face Racing in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.