Barcelona have reached an agreement with Al-Hilal to re-sign Joao Cancelo in a deal worth around €10m, with the Portugal international now closing in on a return to the Catalan club.
The versatile full-back is expected to sign a two-year contract, with only the final formalities remaining before the transfer is officially completed.
According to reports from COPE, Barcelona will pay a package worth approximately €10m, including add-ons, after Al-Hilal lowered their initial asking price during negotiations.
Barcelona accelerate move after Portugal’s World Cup exit
Barcelona deliberately delayed final talks until Portugal’s involvement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end.
Once Roberto Martinez’s side were eliminated, the LaLiga champions quickly stepped up negotiations to finalise the agreement.
Cancelo had already made it clear before the tournament that his priority was to return permanently to Barcelona following his successful loan spell at the club last season.
Despite remaining under contract with Al-Hilal until 2027, the 32-year-old pushed for a move back to Camp Nou, with Barcelona also reaching an agreement over personal terms on a two-year contract.
Head coach Hansi Flick is keen for Cancelo to join the squad as soon as possible and hopes the defender will link up with the team during their pre-season training camp in England.
The club’s sporting director, Deco, and Flick had identified two key objectives before the summer transfer window gathered pace.
Their top priority remains securing the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, while completing Cancelo’s permanent return has also been high on their list.
Talks with Al-Hilal were initially complicated after the Saudi Pro League club valued the defender at around €15m.
However, negotiations progressed in recent weeks, with both clubs eventually reaching an agreement worth approximately €10m, including performance-related bonuses.
Barcelona are now expected to complete the final paperwork before announcing Cancelo’s return.