Al Hilal sign Joao Cancelo from Manchester City

Al Hilal have completed the signing of full-back Joao Cancelo from English Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Portugal international, 30, was confirmed as the 2023-24 Roshn Saudi League winners’ new signing on Tuesday having agreed to a three-year deal.

Cancelo becomes Al Hilal’s first major addition this summer, as the RSL champions attempt to retain the title they captured last term in record-breaking fashion. They opened their 2024-25 account on Saturday with a 3-0 victory at Al Okhdood.

Cancelo represents a real coup for the RSL, with the Portuguese defender enjoying a trophy-laden time at City after joining the club from Juventus in 2019. He went on to make 154 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, helping them to secure three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and League Cup. He was twice named in the PFA’s Premier League Team of the Year.

Cancelo, who also won league trophies at Benfica and Juventus, spent the second half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich, and went on to lift the Bundesliga title. He was loaned to Barcelona last season, featuring in La Liga 32 times.

Able to play on both flanks, Cancelo has been capped 58 times by Portugal and represented his country at this summer’s UEFA European Championship Germany 2024. At Al Hilal, Cancelo will link up with compatriot Ruben Neves, the club's influential midfielder, while he was managed at Benfica by current Al Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus.