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Barcelona Finalizes João Cancelo Loan From Al‑Hilal After Brief Delay

The short-term deal fits Barcelona’s salary limits after Andreas Christensen’s injury created space.

Overview

  • Barcelona confirmed the full-back’s return on loan for the rest of the 2025–26 season, and he will wear the No. 2 shirt.
  • The club’s initial announcement was briefly removed while final paperwork was completed, with Spanish outlets attributing the pause to missing documents.
  • Sporting director Deco said Cancelo provides solutions on the flanks and noted the opportunity arose because the player was unregistered in Saudi Arabia.
  • Local reporting indicates Barcelona will cover about €4 million of Cancelo’s wages, with his registration facilitated by budget room opened by Christensen’s long-term absence.
  • Cancelo re-joins after a previous loan spell at Barça, and he opted for the move despite reported interest from Inter Milan.