Fábio Cardoso is leaving Sevilla FC to join a Saudi Arabian club this week. The Portuguese centre-back, who had been training away from the main group, has finally found a new destination after months out of manager Luis García Plaza's plans.
According to the outlet Zona Mixta, several teams from the Saudi Pro League showed interest in the 32-year-old defender. His agent, Jorge Mendes, worked to finalise the deal after the European transfer window closed. Cardoso arrived at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in 2025 as a last-minute reinforcement following Loïc Badé's departure, but he never managed to establish himself.
Why didn't Cardoso feature for Sevilla?
Fábio Cardoso barely played under Matías Almeyda last season. The situation became definitive with the arrival of Luis García Plaza. From the start of pre-season, he was told he was not part of the plans and urged to find an exit. In his position, the Sevilla manager preferred other options like Kike Salas, Castrín, and Marcão.
His spell at the club was inconsequential. He failed to provide stability to a defence that finished tenth in LaLiga last campaign. You can check the current state of the roster on our squad page. The signing of Youssouf Fofana this summer, alongside the trust in existing centre-backs, sealed his departure.
How was Sevilla's outgoing transfer market?
The sporting direction, led by José Ignacio Navarro, had the priority task of moving on players discarded by García Plaza. Cardoso's case was the most complicated due to a lack of concrete interest throughout the summer. Once the European window shut, the defender continued training separately at the Ciudad Deportiva José Ramón Cisneros Palacios.
The extended deadlines in markets like Saudi Arabia gave him a final chance. The club has managed to restructure its squad, though the balance of the summer window will be reflected in upcoming matches. The team faces a demanding schedule that includes a trip to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona on September 20th, as per our fixtures calendar.
What did Cardoso achieve before joining Sevilla?
Before landing in Nervión, Fábio Cardoso was an important piece for UAE's Al-Ain. With that team, he even scored a goal in the FIFA Club World Cup against Auckland City. That experience in the Middle East has worked in his favour to now find a place in Saudi Arabia.
His prior trajectory did not translate into performance in Spain. The player needs competitive minutes to regain his best form and emerge from the obscurity he has been in. His contract with Sevilla FC, which ran until June 2027, has been terminated to facilitate this exit.
Sevilla FC, currently sitting seventh in the LaLiga standings, now turns its focus to preparing for the next league match. Cardoso's departure frees up a squad place and closes an unproductive chapter for both parties. The Portuguese defender will travel in the coming days to join his new club.
