João Cancelo Joins Barcelona Permanently After Al Hilal Exit
· Sports · Times of India, BBC Sport
João Cancelo is set to sign a permanent contract with Barcelona on Tuesday after terminating his contract with Saudi club Al Hilal. The 32-year-old Portugal international agreed to an early contract termination, allowing him to join the Spanish champions as a free agent without a transfer fee. Cancelo previously spent two loan spells at Barcelona, first arriving from Manchester City for the 2023-24 season and returning for a second loan stint in January 2026 to help secure the LaLiga title. Al Hilal had initially sought a transfer fee ranging between €10 million and €15 million before the contract cancellation cleared his departure.
Why it matters
The move secures a permanent defensive option for Barcelona without incurring a transfer fee, strengthening their squad for upcoming domestic and European campaigns.
Read the original report — Times of India
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