Barcelona Reach €10m Agreement with Al-Hilal for Permanent João Cancelo Transfer
The Portuguese full-back accepts a salary cut on a two-year deal after forcing an exit from Al-Hilal.
Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal to sign Portuguese defender João Cancelo on a permanent transfer for a fee not exceeding €10 million, including performance-related bonuses. The deal, which is nearing final completion following negotiations led by agent Jorge Mendes, marks a significant financial markdown for the Saudi club as Barcelona secure Hansi Flick‘s primary target for the full-back position.
Cancelo has agreed to accept a salary reduction to facilitate the move, committing to a two-year contract with an option for an additional third season. The defender had made it clear to Al-Hilal management that he had no intention of returning to the Saudi Pro League, handing Barcelona decisive leverage during transfer talks. His decision followed a difficult spell in Saudi Arabia, where he was left out of the team during a critical period leading up to the World Cup, where Portugal were eventually eliminated by Spain in the round of 16.
The permanent transfer follows a successful loan spell at Camp Nou during the second half of the 2025–26 campaign. Cancelo made 23 appearances for Barcelona, scoring twice and registering four assists while impressing Flick with the quality of his performances. Flick had reportedly been surprised by the player’s level from early in the loan, prompting Barcelona to move quickly once Portugal’s World Cup run ended, despite having surveyed the broader left-back market.
Cancelo’s arrival is set to accelerate squad decisions regarding young full-backs Héctor Fort and Xavi Espart, with both a sale and a loan considered viable outcomes for each player. Meanwhile, reports linking midfielder Marc Casadó with a potential move to Saudi Arabia are understood to be entirely separate from the mechanics of the Cancelo transfer.
The Portuguese international had originally moved to Al-Hilal from Manchester City in August 2024 following an initial loan spell at Camp Nou in the 2023–24 season. Al-Hilal’s willingness to accept a substantially reduced fee reflects the player’s refusal to return, with formal paperwork now being finalized ahead of Cancelo joining up with the squad.
