Joao Cancelo's Future: Barcelona or Al-Hilal?
Joao Cancelo’s future has taken another sharp turn. On one side, Barcelona are edging towards bringing him back to Catalonia on a permanent deal. On the other, Al-Hilal have quietly handed him a squad number for the 2026/27 season.
Two paths. One player. And a saga that refuses to end.
A No.20 with two futures
In Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal have already moved as if Cancelo is part of their long-term picture. According to SPORT, the club have registered the Portuguese full-back with the No.20 shirt for the 2026/27 campaign, the same number he wore in his first spell there and the one he carries with the Portugal national team.
It looks like a statement. It isn’t necessarily one.
Being listed with a number does not guarantee he will stay in Riyadh. It simply underlines the strange limbo Cancelo finds himself in: officially an Al-Hilal player, practically a Barcelona signing in waiting.
Barcelona’s deal all but done
From Barcelona’s side, the operation is almost complete. The Catalan club are working to close a transfer worth around €10 million, a fee that matches Al-Hilal’s demand as they seek to recover what they invested when they signed him from Manchester City.
The agreement between the clubs is described as practically sealed. Cancelo’s part is even more advanced. He has had personal terms agreed with Barça since the end of last season, when he became a key piece for Hansi Flick.
Over that stretch, Cancelo played 23 matches, scored twice and delivered three assists. More than the numbers, he brought structure and personality to a back line that needed both. With Alejandro Balde battling muscular problems, Cancelo stepped in and stayed in, turning himself into a regular starter.
Those months were enough to convince Flick. For the German coach, making Cancelo’s return permanent is not a luxury signing. It is a necessity.
Delays, details and Deco’s push
So why is he still in Saudi Arabia?
Fiscal and financial details have dragged the process out, stalling what should have been a straightforward operation. The announcement has been pushed back, and what looked like a clean, quick deal has drifted into yet another extended transfer saga for Barcelona.
Inside the club, the will to finish it is clear. Sporting director Deco remains intent on closing the transfer, and Flick continues to view Cancelo as an important addition who can immediately slot into his plans.
Cancelo knows the environment, knows the expectations, and knows the coach. His versatility—able to operate on both flanks—adds another layer of appeal for a squad that has had to juggle injuries and form across the back line.
Al-Hilal brace for life without him
Back in Riyadh, the signs point in another direction. Al-Hilal have already moved in the market for a player in Cancelo’s position, bringing in Mohammed Mahzari. That signing looks less like competition and more like preparation for a departure.
Their priority now is simple: recoup the outlay they made when they took Cancelo from Manchester City. Around €10 million is the figure on the table, and Barcelona are ready to meet it for a defender they already know fits both the dressing room and the tactical structure.
On paper, all roads lead to Camp Nou. On the pitch, though, Cancelo is still very much an Al-Hilal player.
Training in Riyadh, eyes on Barcelona
The calendar tells its own story. After his post-World Cup holiday, Cancelo reported back to Al-Hilal training on August 7. He is working, running, and preparing with the Saudi club while his future is discussed in offices thousands of kilometres away.
He wears No.20 in the squad list in Riyadh. He has an agreement with Barcelona waiting to be activated. Al-Hilal have signed his potential replacement. Deco is pushing. Flick is convinced.
All that remains is for the paperwork to catch up with the reality everyone in European football expects: will Cancelo’s next decisive overlap come in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, or under the lights of Montjuïc in Barcelona colours once again?
