Rejoice, ladies and gentlemen, for Barcelona have FINALLY made a January signing! 18 months after his Man City loan ended, Joao Cancelo is coming back to Barcelona, this time on a 6-month loan deal from Al Hilal. Like any signing recently, it’s divided the fanbase. This is because of Cancelo’s first stint, which, while he was very good for a large part of it, ended in big mistakes in matches against PSG and Madrid which contributed to Barca’s trophyless season.
Cancelo is the first player since Dani Alves whom Barca have signed twice, and they are the only two Barca have signed twice in recent memory. However, the Alves case is much different than that of Cancelo. While Alves was a legend who spent 8 years at the club in his first stint and came back for one last hurrah when Barca needed someone like him. Cancelo didn’t exactly earn legend status in his first spell at Barca, which, once again, makes his signing controversial among supporters.
Something some Barca fans dont understand is that this signing is as much about Kounde CB as Cancelo RB. Jules Kounde has had a rocky start to 25/26, and while he’s had some good games, has largely looked worse than in 24/25. Perhaps this is because of his fullback role causing him to have to do too much, and as a result getting worse. Kounde hasn’t played centerback for Barca since the 23/24 season, when Cancelo was there to cover for him. I believe that this may be the move to rejuvenate Kounde’s form, leaving the Frenchman to a more natural defensive role that he played his entire career before Barca.
Barcelona ended up beating Inter in the race for the fullback, who are also looking for a defender after a long-term injury to Denzel Dumfries. Cancelo always wanted a Barca return, and during his time with Al Hilal, could be pictured in Barca shirts often, and angling for a move back.
I think that this could be a great move. We always want players who are dying to come to Barca, this signing reminds me a lot of the Rashford move. The Englishman was dying to come, divided fans when he arrived, and has been doing great on loan so far.
There are, of course, obvious questions about the Portuguese’s defending. We will likely see a lot of fast-paced games with both Cancelo and Balde starting, as we saw during Cancelo’s first stint. And that was under a comparatively tame defensive line under Xavi.
The last time we made a January signing was – technically – Vitor Roque in 2024, but that transfer was completed the summer before. The last time we made a transfer in January was all the way back in 2022, in the first year post-Messi. We completed the signings of Ferran Torres, Dani Alves, Adama Traore, and Auba. Those four helped transform the team into a very solid second half of 21/22, with memorable wins like the 4-2s over Napoli and Atleti, and the 4-0 vs Madrid. Ferran is the only one of the three who stayed longer than those six months, and despite initially seeming the worst of the three, has grown into a larger role with the team, now being one of Barca’s main attackers and their highest scorer of 2025.
That brings me to another question – What do we expect for Barca’s incomings in 2026? It’s an election year, which usually means promises, but what will actually be delivered? Well, I’m not setting expectations high. While I didn’t expect a genuine January signing, I wouldn’t expect too much in the summer.
First, we have the situation of Rashford’s loan. It all depends on how he finishes the season. 30m is a lot right now for Barca, and if Flick trusts Dro more than Rashford, Rashford will be let go. However, my prediction is that the buy option is triggered. Another option if the Rashford clause isn’t triggered may be a buy-back clause for Jan Virgili.
Next, we have Robert Lewandowski’s imminent departure next summer. His contract ends in 2026 after four years at the club, and while Barca have been trying to start to depend on Ferran more, I still think Barca need a backup. There have been initial rumours linking us to Dusan Vlahovic, and while that doesn’t seem Barca level, it may be the move we’re forced to make, just a striker to fight with Ferran for a first-team spot.
This is because I want Barcelona to devote most of their resources to the centerback position. While Cancelo is a good temporary solution to the defense issue for the rest of the season, going forward we need an entire center back overhaul. My main target, despite (far-fetched) links to Bastoni and Guehi, would be Nico Schlotterbeck. He’s young, very good, and I think he’d be great in the highline. Another realistic target is Marcos Senesi, and perhaps if we sell both Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo in the summer, we could sign both Schlotterbeck and Senesi to replace them.
Barcelona have also had links to Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka on a free, and while he isn’t the best, I think he’s better depth than Marc Casado in defensive midfield, and may be an old head we need post-Lewa.
Overall, here are my predictions for Barca’s signings in 2026
Marcus Rashford – 30m
OR
Jan Virgili – 10-20m
Nico Schlotterbeck – 50-60m
AND/OR
Marcos Senesi – 20-30m
Dusan Vlahovic – Free
Leon Goretzka – Free
There aren’t any massive names, but this young team might not need any. Just filler pieces. Either way, we have Cancelo, and for now, let’s focus on the business end of the 25/26 season, and the memories that come with it, ahead of a potentially great 2026.