Barcelona seal Joao Cancelo return to bolster defence

Barcelona have secured the signing of defender Joao Cancelo on a free transfer, the Spanish giants announced on Thursday. The Portuguese full-back, currently 32 years of age, will remain at Camp Nou until June 30, 2029, according to a statement from the club. Cancelo's departure from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal was prompted by his choice to rejoin Barcelona.

The talented player has previously enjoyed two loan spells with the Catalan club, most recently during the second half of the 2022/23 season, as they clinched the La Liga title under the guidance of Hansi Flick.

The 32-year-old boasts a distinguished career across Portugal, Spain, and Italy prior to his move to Manchester City in 2019. Cancelo's tenure at the Etihad Stadium included loan periods to Bayern Munich, before he signed permanently with the club in 2024. He joins a host of other new signings this summer at Barcelona, including Rodri, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi.

The Catalan club remains on the hunt for a striker, following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Their pursuit of Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez has hit a dead end, as the team is unable to secure a deal with the player due to Atlético's refusal to allow him to leave.

Barcelona's new arrival will be eager to make his mark on the team as they kick off their La Liga campaign on Sunday against Elche.