OFFICIAL: Joao Cancelo joins Al Hilal from Manchester City

Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo has officially joined Saudi Champions Al-Hilal from Manchester City.

Al-Hilal managed to reach a deal with Manchester City Cancelo in a deal that cost the Saudis €25 million after the Portuguese was deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad.

Cancelo had his medical with Al-Hilal today in Paris, before putting pen to paper to officially finalize a massive coup for the Blues.

The 30-year-old was Jorge Jesus’s first choice to reinforce the right-back position as his arrival paved the way for Saud Abdulhamid to join AS Roma.

Cancelo was regarded as a key player for the Citizens since joining the club in August 2019 from Juventus for €65 million till he had a rift with Pep Guardiola at the end of 2022.

Since then, he has been frozen out of the club, spending the remaining of the 2022/2023 season at Bayern Munich, before being loaned out again to Barcelona last season.

Cancelo’s ability to competently cover left and right back would surely appeal to manager Jorge Jesus as he now fills the last spot in the club’s foreign player quota following Michael’s departure.

The Riyadh giants are trying to refresh their squad to retain their Saudi League title and mount a challenge for the AFC Asian Champions League. They are also getting ready for their participation in the 2025 Club World Cup.