Al Hilal Loans Nunez to Al Diriyah, Cancelo to Barcelona

Al Hilal has confirmed two notable squad moves in late August 2026: the loan of forward Darwin Núñez to newly promoted Al Diriyah, and the departure of defender João Cancelo to Barcelona. The two decisions reshape part of the club's roster ahead of the new season.

Núñez has joined Al Diriyah on a season-long loan running until June 2027. The agreement is a "dry" loan, meaning it carries no purchase option, and the player is expected to return to Al Hilal at the end of the term. Public reporting on who covers his wages during the loan has been inconsistent — some accounts point to Al Diriyah, others to Al Hilal — and no official document has clarified the arrangement. The salary obligation tied to the loan has been reported at around €15 million roughly SAR 61–63 million annually, or about SAR 5.1–5.3 million

The Cancelo move took a different path. Al Hilal did not receive a transfer fee; instead, his contract was terminated by mutual consent, allowing him to sign with Barcelona as a free agent. Earlier reports in July 2026 had suggested a permanent transfer worth around €10 million (about SAR 40–42 million), but that structure was set aside in favor of the free-agent route. As of late August, there is no official Saudi announcement confirming any paid, disclosed SAR fee for the move.

Why it matters

For fans in Riyadh and beyond, these moves signal an active reshuffle at one of the country's leading clubs and add star quality to a newly promoted side. It is worth noting that football loan and registration deals between Saudi clubs are handled through Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian Football Federation systems, not through government service platforms, while foreign players' residency and work status follow standard employment and iqama processes with the club as employer.

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