FC Barcelona is advancing rapidly in securing the signature of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo, with Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup acting as a catalyst for accelerating negotiations. Portugal's exit in the round of 16 against Spain allowed both parties to divert their full attention to the transfer.
The deal is reported to be in an advanced stage and likely to be concluded within days. Cancelo is expected to sign a minimum two-year contract, reflecting mutual interest in continuing their cooperation following a positive loan spell in the latter half of the previous season. The overall transfer fee, including fixed payments and potential bonuses, is set to stay below €10 million.
One of the last outstanding issues involves tax arrangements. Having played in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal, Cancelo benefited from a tax-free environment there, but moving back to La Liga means adapting to Spain’s different tax system, as he has resided in the country for more than six months. Despite this, the player has accepted terms within Barcelona’s financial framework.
Cancelo has been clear throughout negotiations about wanting no return to Saudi Arabia. He reportedly informed Al-Hilal of his wish to leave, particularly after being excluded from league registration amid a crucial season and seeing deteriorated relations with coach Simone Inzaghi, reinforcing the desire for a permanent separation.
Because of Cancelo’s strong will to join Barcelona, Al-Hilal’s negotiating leverage was limited, although the club still aimed to maximize the transfer revenue. Separately, there’s interest from Al-Hilal in Barcelona academy graduate Marc Casado, but that matter is handled independently and unrelated to this transfer.
Taking all these factors into account, and given Cancelo’s willingness to lower his earnings, Barcelona is optimistic about closing the deal. Once finalized, the club will focus on its remaining summer priority: signing forward Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid.
This transfer underscores how external events and player motivation can accelerate deals despite financial and legal complexities. It also represents a financially sound move for Barcelona, considering the player’s quality and return to La Liga stability.
