Barcelona make first player signing of January 2026 transfer window

According to sources, Champions, Barcelona are set to complete its first player signing of the 2026 January transfer window.

La Liga champions, Barcelona, are set to complete their first signing of the January 2026 transfer window with the return of João Cancelo, who is expected to join the club on a six-month loan from Al-Hilal. The Catalan side will reportedly pay a €4 million loan fee to secure the services of the Portuguese full-back.

Cancelo has made it clear that a return to Barcelona was his preferred option, prompting him to seek an early exit from a difficult spell in Saudi Arabia. His stance ultimately proved decisive, despite Inter Milan previously reaching a verbal agreement with Al-Hilal for his signature.

The 31-year-old enjoyed a strong loan spell at Barcelona during the 2023–24 season under Xavi Hernández, scoring four goals and providing five assists in 42 appearances. His versatility across both full-back positions, combined with his top-level experience, is seen as a major boost for Hansi Flick’s squad, particularly in light of Andreas Christensen’s injury concerns.

Cancelo’s move to Al-Hilal was initially viewed as a marquee signing for the Saudi Pro League, following a £22 million transfer from Manchester City. However, his time in Riyadh has been hampered by fitness problems and reported tensions with head coach Simone Inzaghi. He featured in just two league matches this season and was subsequently removed from Al-Hilal’s foreign player list.

Barcelona are now poised to finalise the deal, with Cancelo expected to add immediate depth and quality to their defensive options as the second half of the season gets underway.

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