Joao Cancelo Bids Farewell to Manchester City, Joins Al Hilal in £21.2 Million Deal
After five years with Manchester City, Joao Cancelo has officially joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal for a reported fee of £21.2 million. The 30-year-old Portuguese defender, who spent the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, has now committed to a long-term deal with the Saudi side.
Reflecting on his time at City, Cancelo said, “I’ve had many special moments at this great club. I’d like to thank my teammates, coaches, staff, and fans for everything during my time here. I wish City continued success in the future.”
Cancelo, who fell out with City manager Pep Guardiola over limited playing time, hasn’t featured for the Premier League champions since his loan move to Bayern Munich in January 2023. Although he wanted a permanent move to Barcelona after his loan spell, the club’s financial constraints made it impossible.
Since joining City from Juventus in 2019, Cancelo was a key player under Guardiola, helping the team secure two Premier League titles and earning a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2020/21 season. His loan spell at Bayern also contributed to their 11th league title in 2022/23. Despite being welcomed back into training with City, he was not included in matchday squads before sealing his move to Al Hilal.
