Video: "I've come back home": Cancelo's first comment after arriving at Barcelona
In a free transfer deal
Joao Cancelo has landed his dream move to Barcelona on a permanent deal. The Portugal international ended his ties with Al-Hilal to return to the Catalan club as a free agent, opening a new chapter in a Barcelona shirt with a contract running until June 2029.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Cancelo arrived in Barcelona at midday today, ready to sign his new contract after successfully terminating his deal with Al-Hilal, which had one season remaining. Now he rejoins the side he had previously represented on loan.
The full-back knows the Barcelona environment well. He played for the club in the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 seasons, the first under Xavi Hernandez after arriving from Manchester City, the second with Hansi Flick following his loan move from Al-Hilal last January. His desire to stay has finally become reality.
Al-Hilal initially asked for 10 million euros to let Cancelo go, but the player pushed the Saudi club to tear up his contract. He took advantage of the fact that he was not part of coach Simone Inzaghi's plans, coupled with Al-Hilal's need to reduce their number of foreign players in line with Saudi league regulations.
Before leaving Saudi Arabia for Barcelona, Cancelo posted a picture from inside the plane with a brief caption pointing clearly to his destination: "Back home", a nod to his attachment to the Catalan club and his long-standing desire to return.
Delighted to complete the deal, the Portuguese stressed he did everything he could to get back to Barcelona. He even revealed his willingness to give up part of his salary to make it happen, saying he had told Deco his options were clear: "Either move to Barcelona or stay at Al-Hilal without regular playing time".
Barcelona, Cancelo added, is an exceptional club for him. He wants to help the team compete and win as many titles as possible, as the club continues to build a strong squad for the new season.
His ability to play at both right-back and left-back is a key advantage, handing Flick extra flexibility in his line-up. This time, though, the player believes his return is different. He has gone from a loan signing to a Barcelona player tied down for three seasons.
No official presentation ceremony is expected, given his prior familiarity with the club and the fact that he has already worn the shirt. But his arrival carries a different meaning now. Cancelo is returning to the "home" that had been chasing him ever since his first spell came to an end.
