João Cancelo, the Portugal international defender, has completed his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal on a four-year deal.

The transfer was announced earlier this week after negotiations between the two clubs had been ongoing for some time. Cancelo, who joined Manchester City from Benfica in 2016, is set to make the move to the Gulf state as part of the Saudi Professional League (SPL) expansion.

According to reports, the Portuguese defender will join Al Hilal alongside his teammate, Raheem Sterling,Ligue 1 Express who has already signed a four-year contract with the club.

Cancelo has been linked with several other top clubs in Europe during his career, including Juventus and Bayern Munich, but he chose to join Al Hilal instead.

He said in a statement released by the club: "I am delighted to be joining Al Hilal. I have always admired their success and their football philosophy. The opportunity to play in the SPL and work under the guidance of coach Jassim Al-Thumaisi is something that I could not pass up."

Al Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia and has won the league title eight times since its inception in 1994. The club also boasts a strong youth academy that has produced several high-profile players over the years.

The move to Al Hilal comes at a crucial time for Cancelo, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. He missed much of last season due to a knee injury and has only made one appearance for Manchester City so far this campaign.

Despite these setbacks, Cancelo remains a key player for Portugal and has been a regular starter for the national team in recent years.

The move to Al Hilal will provide him with a new challenge and the chance to prove himself in a different league and environment. It remains to be seen whether Cancelo can replicate his form at Manchester City, but it seems likely that he will make an immediate impact at Al Hilal.

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