FC Barcelona is on the brink of finalizing the signing of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal, with local Catalan media characterizing the transfer as “imminent” and highly progressed. The two parties have reportedly agreed on Cancelo’s salary after his successful loan spell last season, during which he helped Barcelona secure a Spanish league title. Al-Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, is eager to transfer Cancelo as he is not in their plans and is training separately, with the club having brought in Mohammed Mahzari to fill his role.

The transfer fee is expected to be approximately $11.5 million (€10 million), a figure Al-Hilal wants to recoup from the $17.3 million (€15 million) they paid Manchester City for Cancelo in 2024. The defender currently has one year remaining on his contract with the Saudi club. Barcelona views this deal as a bargain given Cancelo’s elite quality, his familiarity with the club’s tactical system, and his ability to play multiple defensive roles, especially at right-back.

Cancelo is anticipated to sign a two-year contract with FC Barcelona in the coming days. Last season, he mainly featured at left-back, displacing homegrown player Alejandro Balde and contributing two goals and three assists in 16 La Liga matches. For the 2026/2027 season, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick plans to utilize Cancelo primarily in his preferred right-back position, where he will compete with teammates Jules Kounde and Xavi Espart, alongside versatile World Cup winner Eric Garcia.

This anticipated signing underscores Barcelona’s strategy to enhance squad depth and experience economically. By securing Cancelo, the club adds a proven champion with intimate knowledge of Camp Nou’s football culture. The move also reflects Al-Hilal’s readiness to offload a player who no longer fits their vision, completing a transaction that is widely expected to close shortly.