Manchester City Agree £21.2m Sale of Joao Cancelo to Al-Hilal

Manchester City have reached an agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for the transfer of defender Joao Cancelo in a deal worth £21.2 million. The 30-year-old is yet to finalize personal terms with the club, but a three-year contract is on the table if he agrees to the move.

Cancelo's potential departure marks the end of his five-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium. Despite City manager Pep Guardiola’s comments this month suggesting Cancelo could return to the fold, the defender's recent history with the club points to ongoing issues.

Cancelo's stint at Manchester City has been marred by disputes, leading to loan spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona over the past 18 months. His exclusion from City's Premier League squad for the first two games of the season and his absence from the Community Shield victory against Manchester United, due to a number of players being unavailable after the European Championship, have highlighted the rift.

Initially lauded as Guardiola’s pioneering inverted full-back, Cancelo fell out of favor, particularly after a new contract was signed in 2022. His imminent transfer signals a significant change in City's defensive lineup as they continue to strengthen their squad.