Joao Cancelo Moves Closer to Permanent Return to Barcelona

Joao Cancelo is edging closer to getting what he wants: a permanent return to Barcelona.

The Portugal international, currently on the books at Al-Hilal and under contract in Saudi Arabia until 2027, has made no secret of his desire to stay at Barça after a successful loan spell last season. He enjoyed his football, fit the system, and repeatedly stated he wanted to continue at the club.

For most of the summer, the situation looked complicated. Al-Hilal were reported to be holding out for a transfer fee in the region of 10-15 million euros, a figure that always sat awkwardly with Barcelona’s financial limitations.

Now the picture is changing.

According to Saudi sports newspaper Arriyadiyah and reporter Hamad Al-Suwaih, Al-Hilal are close to agreeing a contract termination with Cancelo. The report states that the Saudi club “nears the signing of contract termination agreement with Cancelo, paving the way for his signing with Spanish club Barcelona.”

If that agreement is completed, it would open the door for Cancelo to join Barcelona as a free agent, a scenario that would dramatically simplify the deal from the Catalan side’s perspective.

The timing is significant. Barcelona are moving through their final preparations ahead of the new La Liga season, and Cancelo’s return before the campaign kicks off would hand the coaching staff a major boost in a key position.

He wanted to stay. Barcelona wanted him back. Now Al-Hilal’s stance may finally be shifting to let it happen.