João Cancelo signs for Barça

A deal between Barcelona and Manchester City has João Cancelo on loan to Manchester City through June 30, 2024. A permanent transfer is not an option.

The player received a public thank-you from the club for his financial contribution and ambition to wear the Barça jersey.

Cancelo has experience playing for a number of prestigious clubs in Europe, including five European Champions. The defender began his career with Benfica, where he won the league, the domestic cup, league cup, as well as a Super Cup. He comes from the village of Barreiro, which is located just across the river from Lisbon.

Valencia, a La Liga team, recognized his potential, and his three seasons in Spanish football have shown they made the proper signing. Cancelo then made his way to Italy, where he played for Internazionale and Juventus for two seasons. He spent a total of three and a half seasons in the Premier League with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after spending the second part of the 2022–23 season on loan at Bayern Munich.

João Cancelo is a lot more than your typical right back, and Xavi Hernández is fully aware of this. The Portuguese defender, like Alejandro Balde on the left, enjoys going forward as much as going back.

With experience, he has also improved his ability to play in midfield and even at left back, which he frequently did at Manchester City. Barça has added several players, including a right back.