Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club has completed the signing of Portuguese defender João Cancelo from Saudi side Al-Hilal. Laporta said the 31-year-old will arrive in Spain to complete his medical and final paperwork, bringing an end to weeks of transfer speculation around the player.

Speaking on TV3, Laporta praised Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, for successfully handling the deal despite the club’s financial limitations. He described the signing as another example of Deco’s effectiveness in the transfer market, noting that bringing in experienced players under current conditions is not an easy task.

Cancelo is expected to strengthen Barcelona’s defence with his experience and versatility. The Portuguese international has previously played for top European clubs including Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Benfica, giving him valuable exposure at the highest level of football.

Barcelona fans will now look forward to seeing how quickly Cancelo settles into the team and what impact he can make this season. His arrival is seen as a boost for the squad as the club continues to rebuild and compete strongly both domestically and in Europe.