Al Hilal Keep Cancelo in Squad Amid Barcelona Talks

Al Hilal has included Portuguese defender João Cancelo in its squad for the 2026/27 season and assigned him shirt number 20, even as negotiations over his future with Barcelona continued.

Cancelo remained under contract with the Riyadh club during the talks, with his current deal reported to run until June 2027. He was reported to be training with the team, though he was left out of at least one early match squad this season.

Talks with Barcelona centred on a possible permanent move, with reported figures placing the transfer at around €10 million including bonuses. No Saudi-side fee or official figure was publicly fixed in the available details.

Why it matters

Cancelo has been one of the higher-profile names in the Saudi Pro League, and his standing on the squad list underlines Al Hilal's approach of keeping key players registered while transfer discussions run their course. For fans, his inclusion and shirt assignment suggest he remains part of the club's plans in the short term.

The situation reflects a wider trend in Saudi football, where international stars continue to draw interest from major European clubs. Until any agreement is finalised, Cancelo's status stays with Al Hilal, and supporters will be watching how the negotiations develop over the coming weeks.

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