32-year-old Portuguese winger terminates contract with Al-Hilal! Forfeits millions in salary, becomes free agent, and joins Barcelona for the third time

On August 17, Beijing time, prominent transfer insider Fabrizio Romano declared with his signature "HERE WE GO" that João Cancelo, the 32-year-old Portuguese international winger, has mutually ended his contract with Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal. According to sources, Cancelo has consented to forgo a portion of his last year's wages at the club. His post-tax annual salary at Al-Hilal stood at €15 million, with an extra €2.25 million in performance-related bonuses.

After becoming a free agent, Cancelo is set to return to Barcelona, having been given permission to depart early next week. He had already agreed on all personal terms with Barça since June, and the two sides are now about to sign an official contract. This will mark Cancelo's third stint with Barcelona.

Born on May 27, 1994, Cancelo is now 32 years old and capable of playing as both a full-back and a wing-back on either flank. Throughout his career, he has represented European powerhouses such as Benfica, Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Manchester City.

During the 2024 summer transfer window, Cancelo moved from Manchester City to Al-Hilal for a €25 million fee. Last season, he returned to European football on loan to Barcelona, making 23 appearances across all competitions for the Blaugrana, scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists.

In the 2023 summer window, Cancelo also joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester City, spending one season at the club. He played 42 matches in all competitions, netting 4 goals and delivering 5 assists.

As a current Portuguese international, Cancelo has earned 73 caps for his national team, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists. He featured in all five of Portugal's matches at the most recent World Cup. According to the German website Transfermarkt, Cancelo's current market value is €8 million.