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SportsMoney Barcelona Negotiates First Team Transfer With Saudi Club By Tom Sanderson ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Sanderson has been primarily based in Barcelona since 2019. Follow Author Aug 01, 2026, 06:34am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary FC Barcelona is reportedly negotiating with Al-Hilal for the permanent transfer of Joao Cancelo, according to Mundo Deportivo and 365 Scores. Cancelo, who impressed on his second loan spell at Camp Nou under Hansi Flick, is seen as essential for Barça's European ambitions. Despite a chaotic first stint, he thrived in a new role, helping the team secure the La Liga title. His loan expired, but a permanent move was anticipated. Cancelo's absence from Al-Hilal's pre-season suggests a release agreement is in place, with negotiations involving Jorge Mendes. Al-Hilal seeks around $11.5 million for the full-back, a fee considered a bargain for his pedigree. Barça is now expected to finalize the deal.
FC Barcelona is reportedly negotiating the permanent transfer of Joao Cancelo with Al-Hilal, according to Mundo Deportivo and 365 Scores, who both cited anonymous sources.
Cancelo impressed on his second loan spell at the Spotify Camp Nou in the second half of last season.
Though his first assignment in Montjuic - during Xavi Hernandez’s trophyless and final 2023/2024 term - was chaos to forget, the Portuguese relished a new role under Hansi Flick .
Usurping La Masia graduate Alejandro Balde from the starting line up, the veteran had the freedom to roam forward with ample cover from what often became a back three of central defenders in Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin.
As a consequence, Barça might have fallen short in the Champions League by losing a quarterfinal tie to Atletico Madrid, but it did retain the La Liga title making Cancelo a champion in all the major European leagues bar the French.
As opposed to Marcus Rashford , who has since returned to Manchester United, it always looked like Cancelo’s loan move would be made permanent even if Barça let it expire on June 30.
The World Cup, where Cancelo’s country lost in the last 16 to eventual winners Spain and a number of his club teammates, perhaps got in the way. But now that the FIFA spectacle has concluded, Sporting Director Deco and President Joan Laporta can now focus on strengthening Flick’s squad.
Cancelo’s supposed failure to turn up to Al-Hilal’s preseason training camp in Austria on July 29 has dominated the local press in Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, some corners say that the 32-year-old had permission not to report to head coach Simeone Inzaghi and that he has reached an agreement to be released from his Al-Hilal commitments.
This means that negotiations with Barça, as super agent and close Mendes confidant Jorge Mendes acts as the middle man, are well underway.
As a seasoned international that can play on either flank, Flick views Cancelo as essential to his sporting project where conquering Europe is of paramount importance.
With Cancelo currently boasting less than a year on his contract, Al-Hilal reportedly seeks around $11.5 million for its full back.
FC Barcelona had previously sought to pay just a few million euros for Cancelo or acquire him as a free agent if his contract was rescinded. Still the mentioned fee is a bargain for someone of his pedigree, and Al-Hilal is now waiting for Barça to make its mind up on whether to pull the trigger on the deal.
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