João Cancelo’s long-awaited return to Barcelona may finally be approaching a decisive moment, with the Catalan club potentially able to complete the deal without paying Al-Hilal a transfer fee.
After weeks of negotiations, a new report from Saudi Arabia claims Al-Hilal and Cancelo are moving closer to an agreement to terminate his contract.
If completed, the Portuguese defender could become a free agent and negotiate his return to Barcelona directly.
It would represent a dramatic change in a saga that only days ago appeared stuck over the transfer fee.
Barcelona had reportedly been discussing a deal worth around €10 million before Al-Hilal increased their asking price to approximately €15 million.
Now, Barça could potentially avoid paying a transfer fee altogether.
The move is not official, but Cancelo appears closer than ever to securing the permanent Barcelona return he has wanted throughout the summer.
Al-Hilal and Cancelo reportedly nearing contract termination
Reports attributed to Saudi journalist Hamad Al-Suwaih indicate that Al-Hilal and Cancelo are close to reaching an agreement to terminate the player’s contract.
Cancelo remains tied to the Saudi Pro League club until 2027, meaning Barcelona would normally need to negotiate a transfer fee.
A mutual termination would completely change the situation.
Once released, Cancelo could theoretically join Barcelona without Barça paying Al-Hilal a conventional transfer fee.
That could provide the breakthrough the Catalan club have been waiting for.
Al-Hilal reportedly raised their price from €10m to €15m
The latest development is particularly significant because negotiations had appeared to become more difficult.
Cadena SER reported that Barcelona previously had a verbal understanding with Al-Hilal over a deal worth around €10 million.
However, reports from Saudi Arabia subsequently suggested that Al-Hilal increased their demand to approximately €15 million.
That created a problem for Barça, particularly for a 32-year-old player entering the final year of his contract.
The possibility of Cancelo terminating his Al-Hilal deal could now make the disagreement over the transfer fee irrelevant.
Barcelona could turn a €15m transfer into a free-agent deal
From Barcelona’s perspective, the potential financial benefit is obvious.
A transfer that threatened to cost around €15 million could instead become a free-agent signing.
That would not mean Cancelo arrives without any cost.
Barcelona would still have to agree his salary, contract and potentially other payments associated with the operation.
The precise financial conditions of any Al-Hilal termination agreement are also not yet known.
But avoiding a traditional transfer fee would make the deal considerably more attractive for Barça.
Cancelo continues to send Barcelona signals
There has been little doubt about Cancelo’s preferred destination.
The Portuguese international has repeatedly been linked with a permanent return after spending last season with Barcelona.
On Saturday, Cancelo posted an image of himself wearing Barcelona colors from behind, accompanied by an hourglass emoji.
The post did not explicitly announce anything, but its timing immediately attracted attention as negotiations over his future continued.
The message was widely interpreted as another indication that Cancelo is waiting for his Barcelona return to be finalized.
Cancelo left out of Al-Hilal’s opening squad
Another clue arrived when Cancelo was not included in Al-Hilal’s squad for their opening Saudi Pro League match against Al-Faisaly.
His absence increased speculation that an exit is approaching.
However, manager Simone Inzaghi stopped short of confirming the defender would leave.
Inzaghi said Cancelo continued training normally but indicated that the decision regarding his future belonged to Al-Hilal’s board.
Cancelo therefore remains an Al-Hilal player until an agreement is formally completed.
Barcelona already know exactly what Cancelo offers
A permanent move would represent another chapter in Cancelo’s relationship with Barcelona.
He first joined the club on loan from Manchester City for the 2023-24 campaign before moving permanently to Al-Hilal.
Barcelona then brought him back on loan from the Saudi side in January 2026.
His versatility remains one of his biggest attractions.
Cancelo can play at right-back or left-back and can also move into midfield when Barcelona have possession.
Hansi Flick has already worked with the Portuguese international and knows exactly what he can offer.
At 32, Cancelo would not arrive as a long-term development project but as an experienced player expected to contribute immediately.
Why Barcelona have continued pursuing Cancelo
Cancelo’s return has been discussed throughout the summer because the player’s preference has remained clear.
Earlier reports indicated that Barcelona and the defender had already made progress over personal terms, with a two-year contract repeatedly mentioned as a possible arrangement.
The main obstacle was reaching an acceptable agreement with Al-Hilal.
When the reported asking price increased from around €10 million to €15 million, Barcelona had little reason to rush.
A mutual termination could now offer a completely different route to completing the transfer.
Why would Al-Hilal terminate Cancelo’s contract?
Allowing Cancelo to leave after reportedly asking €15 million might initially appear surprising.
However, transfer decisions also involve salary commitments, squad planning and the wishes of the player.
If Al-Hilal conclude that Cancelo is unlikely to remain an important part of their plans, terminating his contract could become a practical solution.
What remains unclear is the exact financial structure of any separation agreement.
Al-Hilal have not officially confirmed the termination or its terms.
From €15m demand to possible free Barcelona return
The situation has changed dramatically in only a few days.
Barcelona were reportedly discussing a transfer around €10 million.
Al-Hilal then increased their demand to approximately €15 million.
Cancelo continued publicly signaling his affection for Barcelona and was left out of Al-Hilal’s opening squad.
Now, reports indicate that the player and the Saudi club could terminate their contract altogether.
If completed, Barcelona may get exactly what they wanted without meeting Al-Hilal’s increased asking price.
João Cancelo wants Barcelona.
Barcelona want João Cancelo.
And after Al-Hilal reportedly demanded around €15 million, a mutual contract termination could now open the door for the Portuguese defender to return without a transfer fee.
If the agreement is finalized, Cancelo’s latest hourglass message may prove to have been perfectly timed.
