João Cancelo leaves Al Hilal, set to return to Barcelona as free agent

João Cancelo has parted ways with Al Hilal, clearing the path for a free agent return to Barcelona, where he made a genuine impression during a loan spell in the second half of last season.

From loan spell to love affair

Cancelo originally joined Barcelona on loan in January 2026, with the move costing around €4 million in fees. What followed was a productive half-season in La Liga that left both the player and the club wanting more.

Cancelo made his feelings abundantly clear. After returning to Saudi Arabia, he posted on Instagram wearing Barcelona’s colors. Earlier in 2026, Cancelo reportedly turned down a move to Inter Milan, choosing to hold out specifically for Barcelona.

Al Hilal’s hardball and the stalemate that followed

Al Hilal initially set an asking price of around €10 million, which was already a stretch for Barcelona given their well-documented financial constraints. Then the Saudi club raised the price to €15 million, a move that effectively froze negotiations.

Barcelona’s strategy was always to secure Cancelo either as a free agent or for a minimal transfer fee, something closer to the €4 million they paid for the initial loan.

Al Hilal’s manager Simone Inzaghi referred the situation to the club’s board. As recently as mid-August, Inzaghi confirmed that Cancelo was still training with the first team but made clear that decisions about the player’s future were above his pay grade.

Al Hilal excluded Cancelo from their squad for the opening match of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season.

What this means for all sides

By leaving Al Hilal rather than being sold, Cancelo eliminates the transfer fee that had been the primary obstacle. Barcelona avoids paying €15 million, and Cancelo gets the move he’s wanted for months. The only party that doesn’t get what it wants is Al Hilal, which walks away without a fee for a player they valued in the tens of millions.

La Liga’s financial fair play rules mean that even a free agent signing requires careful salary cap maneuvering, something Barcelona has become uncomfortably experienced at navigating over the past few years.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.