Joao Cancelo has officially left Manchester City, joining Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in a deal valued at £21.2 million. The 30-year-old Portuguese full-back, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, has signed a long-term contract with the Saudi side.
Cancelo expressed his gratitude to Manchester City upon his departure, stating, “I would like to wish everyone at City continued success in the future. I had many very special moments during my time here at this great club. I want to thank my teammates, the coaches, all the staff at City, and the fans for everything during my time here.”
Cancelo has not featured for Manchester City since he was loaned to Bayern Munich in January 2023 after reportedly falling out with manager Pep Guardiola. During his loan spell last season at Barcelona, he was eager for a permanent transfer to the Catalan club, but financial constraints reportedly made the move unfeasible.
Having been a pivotal player for City since his arrival from Juventus in 2019, Cancelo’s relationship with Guardiola is believed to have deteriorated due to disagreements over his playing time, leading to his eventual departure.
With Cancelo on a new chapter with Al Hilal, joining a growing list of high-profile players moving to the Saudi Pro League.
