Reports have indicated that Al Hilal is on the verge of finalizing a deal to sign João Cancelo from Manchester City for a fee of around £21 million ($28m). This move would see the Portugal international make his way to the Saudi Pro League, with a lucrative contract worth approximately £15m annually.
Having been sidelined at Manchester City for the past 18 months, João Cancelo spent time on loan at Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Despite returning to training in Manchester during the summer, the 30-year-old defender was notably left out of the squad for the opening Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Ipswich Town. Cancelo leaves City having made over 150 appearances for the club, securing three Premier League titles along the way. His performances even earned him a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
Cancelo’s last appearance for City dates back to January 2023 before heading to Bayern Munich on loan. Although his time at the German club was not made permanent, he subsequently joined Barcelona on loan for the 2023-24 season. Despite Barcelona’s interest in retaining him, financial constraints have paved the way for Al Hilal to make a move for the versatile defender. Cancelo’s impressive resume includes stints at Benfica, Valencia, and Juventus, further solidifying his credentials.
Despite Cancelo’s imminent departure, sources suggest that Manchester City is still exploring options to bolster their attacking ranks before the upcoming transfer deadline. While manager Pep Guardiola has expressed satisfaction with the midfield reinforcements following Ilkay Gündogan’s return from Barcelona, the club remains vigilant in evaluating potential strikers following Julián Álvarez’s move to Atlético Madrid. The quest to strengthen the squad reflects City’s ambition to maintain their competitive edge in domestic and European competitions.