Fabio Cardoso is close to leaving Sevilla FC, with concrete offers arriving from Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese centre-back is not in manager Luis García Plaza's plans, and his departure is seen as the solution to free up a squad place.
According to a report this Wednesday from outlet Zona Mixta by journalist Álvaro Muñoz, Cardoso has proposals on the table from Saudi clubs. The transfer window in that country remains open, unlike in Spain, which closed this past Monday. The 32-year-old player is familiar with the league after a previous loan spell at Al Ain.
Why is Sevilla seeking Cardoso's exit?
The situation for Fabio Cardoso has been complicated since the start of pre-season. Manager Luis García Plaza has completely excluded him from the first-team dynamic. In recent weeks, the player has trained alone, a clear signal he is not in the immediate sporting plans. The club tried to find him a destination during the summer market, even considering a possible contract termination, but financial differences between the parties prevented an agreement.
His exit would allow Sevilla to free up significant salary space. The Nervionense team maintains a large squad and needs to adjust numbers. You can check this season's squad composition on our dedicated squad page. Cardoso joined the club in 2021 and his contract runs until June 2025.
What is the current state of negotiations?
Talks are advanced, but no transfer has been finalized yet. "Cardoso has offers from Saudi Arabia," confirmed the Zona Mixta report. The operation now depends on one of those proposals materializing into a formal agreement between the clubs and the player. The defender is said to be open to a new challenge in a league he already knows.
The Saudi transfer window runs until September 30th, providing time to close a deal. This route appears as the main alternative to unblock a situation that has dragged on all summer.
How does this affect Sevilla's defence?
The potential departure of Cardoso would have a limited on-field impact, given his current distance from the team. Luis García Plaza has other options at centre-back. Sergio Ramos and Loïc Badé have been the starting pair at the beginning of the league, while Tanguy Nianzou and Karim Rekik provide alternatives.
The Sevillista team faces a demanding schedule. After the international break, they will resume competition on September 14th by visiting Valencia at Mestalla. All upcoming matches are available on our fixtures calendar. Sevilla currently occupies seventh place in the LaLiga standings, with seven points from four matchdays.
The exit of Cardoso would primarily represent financial and squad management relief. The club continues to work on finding exits for other players not in the manager's plans. The next deadline for movements in Spanish football will be the winter transfer window, opening in January 2027.
