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SportsBarcelona to sign Joao Cancelo permanently from Al-Hilal for €10m, two-year deal
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According to The Athletic UK's Barcelona correspondent Pol Ballús, João Cancelo is set to join Barcelona permanently from Al-Hilal for a fee of around €10 million, signing a two-year contract. The 32-year-old Portuguese full-back had a successful loan spell at Barcelona, scoring two goals in 23 appearances and helping the team win the league title. Cancelo was selected for Portugal's World Cup squad and started all five matches. He was not Hansi Flick's first-choice defensive target but provides needed reinforcement. This will be Barcelona's second summer signing after Anthony Gordon's €80 million arrival. The article also notes departures of Robert Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford, Iñaki Peña, and Ansu Fati. Cancelo previously played for Manchester City (winning three Premier League titles) and had loans at Bayern Munich and Barcelona before joining Al-Hilal in 2024.
Source report
Hupu, July 9th — The Athletic UK's Barcelona correspondent Pol Ballús reports that João Cancelo is set to permanently transfer from Al Hilal to Barcelona, following a successful loan spell at the Catalan club.
The Portuguese international full-back will join Barcelona for a fee of approximately €10 million, signing a two-year contract.
Cancelo joined Barcelona on loan in January to complete the remainder of the season, scoring two goals in 23 appearances and helping the team win the league title.
The 32-year-old was selected for Portugal's squad for this summer's World Cup. He had previously played for the club on loan from Manchester City during the 2023-24 season.
As a right-back, he started all five of Portugal's matches in this summer's tournament but was substituted at halftime in the group stage matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Cancelo was not Hansi Flick's first-choice defensive target, but he provides a strong defensive reinforcement at a time when Barcelona urgently needs it.
Following the €80 million (approx. £69.3 million) signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, Cancelo will be Barcelona's second signing of the summer transfer window.
Robert Lewandowski left the Camp Nou after his contract expired to join Chicago Fire, loanee Marcus Rashford returned to parent club Manchester United, and academy graduates Iñaki Peña and Ansu Fati have also made permanent moves away.
After five years at Manchester City, winning three Premier League titles, Cancelo joined Al Hilal in August 2024 for around €25 million (approx. £21 million).
He spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, winning the league title that season, before joining Barcelona in August 2023.
Source: The New York Times
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虎扑 - 足球Neutral / independent
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João Cancelo Nears Permanent Barcelona Transfer After Al-Hilal Agreement