Sporting Lisbon have announced the signing of Hector Bellerin from Barcelona until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old returned to Camp Nou for the 2022-23 campaign after ending his 11-year stay with Arsenal, but he struggled to earn regular game time under Xavi.
Bellerin, who only signed a one-year deal with the Catalan giants, played just seven games for Xavi's men in all tournaments, including a solitary start in La Liga.
Having been an unused substitute in each of La Blaugrana's last eight La Liga contests, Bellerin has swapped Spain for Portugal as he prepares to spend the second half of the campaign with Sporting.
Bellerin joins Ruben Amorim's side as a replacement for Pedro Porro, whose deadline-day move to Tottenham Hotspur on a five-and-a-half year deal should be announced imminently.
Following Bellerin's exit, Barcelona are understood to be on the verge of bolstering their right-back ranks with the signing of Los Angeles Galaxy defender Julian Araujo.
The 21-year-old will provide competition and cover for the likes of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto at Camp Nou in the coming months.
Ben Knapton
