Joao Cancelo's Future: Barcelona Deal Almost Done
Joao Cancelo’s name is back on a squad list at Al-Hilal, his old No.20 shirt waiting for him in Saudi Arabia. On paper, he is part of their plans for 2026/27. In reality, his future still points firmly towards Barcelona.
The latest twist came via SPORT, which revealed Al-Hilal have registered the Portuguese full-back with the same number he wore in his first spell at the club and with the Portugal national team. It looks like a statement. It is really just a placeholder.
Because while the shirt is there, the deal with Barcelona is almost there.
Barcelona and Al-Hilal, deal all but done
Barcelona and Al-Hilal have an agreement that is described as practically complete, with the fee set at around €10 million. Cancelo has already shaken hands on personal terms with the Catalan club, a pact in place since the end of last season.
That period under Hansi Flick changed everything. Cancelo played 23 times, scored twice, and added three assists. More importantly, he became a fixture in the starting XI at a moment when Alejandro Balde’s muscular problems opened a gap on the flank.
He didn’t just fill it. He owned it.
Flick saw a defender who could start on either side, step into midfield, and give Barcelona a different angle in possession. Those months were enough to convince the coach that this should not be a one-off loan romance. This needed to be permanent.
Barcelona agreed. Al-Hilal, crucially, are willing to sell.
A simple transfer, turned into another saga
On sporting grounds, the move is straightforward. On the balance sheet, less so.
Fiscal and financial details have dragged the process out, delaying an announcement that once looked imminent and turning a routine operation into yet another elongated transfer story for the Blaugrana.
Inside the club, there is no doubt about the intention. Sporting director Deco is pushing to close the deal. Flick is waiting for a player he already trusts, someone who knows the dressing room, the demands, and the tactical language.
Cancelo offers cover on both flanks, understands Barcelona’s environment, and has already operated under Flick’s instructions. He is plug-and-play in a squad that cannot afford expensive experiments.
Yet, officially, he is still an Al-Hilal player.
Al-Hilal brace for life without Cancelo
In Riyadh, the signs are just as clear. Al-Hilal have moved to sign Mohammed Mahzari, a player who operates in the same position. That recruitment looks less like competition and more like preparation.
The Saudi club’s priority now is to recover part of the investment they made when they brought Cancelo in from Manchester City. Their stance is simple: around €10 million, and he can go. Barcelona are prepared to meet that valuation for a defender they know inside out.
So the two clubs are aligned on the broad strokes: fee agreed, player willing, coach convinced, sporting director pushing. The final hurdles are numbers on a spreadsheet and signatures on a contract.
Training in Saudi Arabia, mind in Catalonia
For now, though, the reality is more mundane. Cancelo reported back to Al-Hilal training on August 7, returning from his post-World Cup holiday and stepping back into daily work with the Saudi side.
He runs, he trains, he wears the badge. Officially, he is their player again.
But the No.20 shirt sitting on Al-Hilal’s squad list feels temporary, like a bookmark rather than a new chapter. Barcelona wait, the agreement is ready, and Cancelo stands in the middle of it all, boots laced, future almost decided.
