Manchester City has agreed to a £21.2 million deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal to transfer defender Joao Cancelo. The transfer, pending Cancelo’s personal agreement, would conclude his five-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
Cancelo, 30, is expected to sign a three-year contract with Al-Hilal if he finalizes the move. Despite recent comments from City manager Pep Guardiola suggesting Cancelo could return to the team, the defender’s prior disagreements and loan spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona over the past 18 months have complicated his status at the club
Cancelo has not featured in Manchester City’s Premier League games this season and missed the Community Shield victory over Manchester United due to several City players being unavailable after the European Championship in Germany.
Initially, Cancelo made a significant impact as Guardiola’s first inverted full-back. However, his position in the squad diminished shortly after he signed a new contract in 2022, leading to his current position away from the first team.
This transfer marks a notable shift in Cancelo’s career and further emphasizes the evolving dynamics within Manchester City’s squad.
