Assignment on the decline: agreement in principle between Barcelona and Al Hilal for Joao Cancelo

Joao Cancelo is very close to returning to FC Barcelona. On Monday afternoon, the Barça board sent a formal offer to the Saudi Al Hilal board for the loan of the Portuguese full-back, who would arrive without a purchase option to play the second half of the season under the orders of Hansi Flick.

The 31-year-old defender landed in Arabia in the summer of 2024, coming from Manchester City, after playing on loan at Barça in 23/24. After the arrival of Simone Inzaghi to the Al Hilal bench in the 2025 Club World Cup, Joao suffered a muscle injury and was subsequently removed from the squad during the first half of the 25/26 Saudi league.

The Italian coach made it clear that he did not count on Cancelo and, as his contract ends in 2027, the club decided to negotiate his loan departure in the winter market. Although Inter Milan was the first to show interest in signing him, the Portuguese player made his desire to wait for an offer from Barça clear, which was finally formalized that Monday.

Barça's reasons for betting on Joao Cancelo's return

In principle, the coaching staff led by Hansi Flick did not seem sure about signing the player from Barreiro. However, the absence of Andreas Christensen and the good work of Gerard Martín in the center of defense reduce the number of available alternatives to rotate Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde on the wings.

The Frenchman has already accumulated 1,869 minutes of action in 25 of the 26 matches played by Barça in all competitions. Eric García, in theory, is his backup, but the player from Martorell has established himself as a defensive midfielder. In Balde's case, he has also been left without a direct replacement with Martín settled in the center.

Álex also adds 1,510 minutes of play in 21 appearances this season and only had one 'forced' break of five games in September due to a muscle injury. Joao Cancelo would allow both to rest more, thanks to his versatility to play as a right or left-back.

Furthermore, he is a footballer who knows the club well and has enormous affection for Barça. Joao left in the summer of 2024 due to the financial problems of **a Blaugrana team unable to pay the 25 million euros** that Manchester City demanded to let him go.During his only season in the blaugrana shirt, the former Valencia, Benfica, Bayern, Inter, Juventus, and Manchester City full-back played **42 games under Xavi Hernández**, contributing 4 goals and 5 assists.

How much will Cancelo's loan cost Barcelona?

Joao Cancelo in a match wearing the FC Barcelona jersey

Understanding that **Ronald Araujo** will be another 'reinforcement' for the center of the defense in the second half of 25/26, Barça prefers to take advantage of **the almost 5.5 million euros** that Christensen's long-term absence will free up (80% of his salary for four or more months out) to recover Joao Cancelo.

Information leaked by 'Jijantes' assures that Barça will pay around 5 million euros for the loan of Joao Cancelo, who accepted a salary reduction (15 million net per year) to facilitate his return to Catalonia. Al Hilal, for its part, would also be satisfied with the Blaugrana offer.

The full-back would finally earn about 3 million for his second stint at Barcelona, a little over 50% of what his salary would have been had he moved to another club (€7.5 million). Al Hilal, initially, hoped to offload 60% of his contract and had a preliminary agreement in place with Inter Milan.

However, the pressure from Joao and his agent, Jorge Mendes, tipped the scales in favor of a Barça that has until January 14th to send Christensen's medical report to LaLiga requesting the long-term absence of the 29-year-old center-back

The date Cancelo could debut with Barça

Once the employers' association authorizes the release of the Dane's salary, the Blaugrana team will be able to register Cancelo. If everything is finalized within the planned timeframe, the Portuguese player could be authorized to play from January 21, for matchday 20 of LaLiga, against Real Sociedad at Anoeta

The 31-year-old defender has not played since December 22 in Al Hilal's victory against Sharjah FC (0-1) on the sixth matchday of the AFC Champions League group stage.

In his time in Arabia, the Portuguese international played **a total of 45 official matches in which he scored 3 goals and provided 14 assists**. If his signing by Barça were to materialize, he would have to complete his physical recovery and adapt to Flick's defensive system.

This way, Joao would have to get used to playing as a full-back/wing-back in **a much more advanced defense than usual**, constantly pressing in the opponent's half, as well as effectively executing offside traps to leave opponents offside.