João Cancelo commits to Barça until 2029

João Cancelo is back in blaugrana colours. This time, for good. FC Barcelona have completed the permanent signing of the Portuguese full-back from Al Hilal, handing him a deal that runs until 2029 and formally committing to him for the next three seasons.

It is Cancelo’s third spell as a Barça player, but the mood around this return is very different. No more short-term fixes. No more loan uncertainty. The club have moved to lock in a player whose profile fits exactly how they want to attack games from the back, and the 30-year-old has wasted no time in sending a clear message: he is ready to play.

Cancelo’s third act in blaugrana

The Portuguese defender has never hidden his affection for the club or for the way Barça want their full-backs to live in the opposition half. His earlier stints showed flashes of that chemistry. Now comes the long-term version.

After his move from Al Hilal was agreed, Cancelo signed on for three seasons and immediately underlined his happiness at returning, speaking of his joy at rejoining the squad and his eagerness to get straight into competition. For a team that leans heavily on its wide defenders to create, his arrival on a permanent basis removes a major question mark in a key position.

The deal also signals continuity. Barça are not just patching holes for a season; they are building around a core they trust to carry the club into the next cycle.

New faces, new goals: Abdelkarim leads preseason charge

While Cancelo settles back into familiar surroundings, another name has quietly owned Barça’s preseason headlines: Hamza Abdelkarim.

The Egyptian forward has emerged as the team’s most prolific scorer in preseason, hitting four goals, the latest coming in the Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm clash. In a summer that often focuses on big-name arrivals, Abdelkarim has forced his way into the conversation with the simplest argument of all: goals.

His finishing touch has added an edge to Barça’s warm-up fixtures and given the coaching staff something to think about as competitive action looms. When a player keeps scoring, it becomes harder and harder to ignore.

Spotify Camp Nou gets a glimpse of the future

The Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm did more than just showcase Abdelkarim’s form. It also opened the door to a new wave of Barça players at Spotify Camp Nou.

Seven players made their home debuts in the traditional curtain-raiser, a reminder that the squad is in a phase of renewal as much as refinement. For supporters, it was a first live look at fresh signings and emerging talents in the stadium that will demand the most from them.

Among the standout images of the day came before a ball was even kicked. New signings Van Asten, McCamey, Martina and Kerolin posed with the Joan Gamper Trophy, taking part in one of the club’s most recognisable rituals ahead of the meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion. The photo is symbolic: new faces, same expectations.

Barça Femení set their leadership group

On the women’s side, the European champions have quietly put another key piece in place: the captaincy group.

Patri Guijarro has been named first captain for the new season, a decision that underlines her importance as both a midfielder and a leader in a dressing room packed with trophies and personality. Alongside her, Marta Torrejón, Irene Paredes, Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham complete a powerful leadership unit.

It is a blend of experience, defensive authority, midfield brilliance and attacking creativity. In a squad that has grown used to winning, the choice of captains sets the tone for how they plan to keep doing it.

Transfer tension in Madrid: Julián turns down Arsenal

Away from Barcelona, a different kind of story is unfolding in the capital. Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement with Arsenal for the transfer of Julián, known as “Spider”, but the player has rejected the move.

The club, according to reports, acknowledge that the situation has become untenable. They still, however, maintain a firm veto on Barcelona as a destination for the forward. It leaves Julián in a tight corner: a deal in place with a Premier League side he does not want to join, and a La Liga rival he is blocked from signing for.

The standoff adds another layer of intrigue to a transfer window that rarely lacks drama, especially when the paths of Atlético, Barça and the Premier League intersect.

Barça’s long view on the goal: Livakovic on the radar

Looking further ahead, Barcelona are already sketching out their future in one of the most sensitive positions on the pitch.

Croatia’s national team goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has emerged as a strong option for the 2027–28 season. At 31, he fits the profile of an experienced, reliable presence who could arrive as a veteran backup to Joan Garcia.

The idea is clear: identify a goalkeeper with international pedigree who can support, push and protect a younger first choice without blocking his development. Livakovic’s name ticks those boxes and has therefore moved into focus for the medium-term planning of the position.

From Cancelo’s long-term deal to the rise of Abdelkarim, from Julián’s stalled move to the early plotting around Livakovic, Barcelona’s present and future are being shaped on multiple fronts. The contracts and decisions made now will decide whether this next era at Spotify Camp Nou becomes a fleeting transition — or the foundation of something far more enduring.