Fábio Cardoso's exit from Sevilla is blocked as no agreement has been reached to terminate his contract. The Portuguese centre-back and the club's sporting management are stuck in negotiations, according to a report by ESTADIO Deportivo on Wednesday.
The outlet details that talks between the player's agency and Sevilla have not borne fruit. Cardoso, who is under contract until 2027, was sidelined by manager Luis García Plaza at the end of pre-season and is seeking a move before the transfer window closes. The club has already managed numerous departures this summer, but this particular deal is proving difficult.
Why is there no termination agreement?
The main stumbling block is financial. Sources close to the player indicated in early August that they saw a termination as "difficult" because Sevilla are not willing to pay the salary corresponding to the final year of his contract. Cardoso, for his part, does not appear inclined to waive that money. This stance has kept negotiations at a standstill for weeks.
The state of Sevilla's defence this season is another factor. With the signings of young prospects and trust in players like Loïc Badé, space for Cardoso is limited. Fans can check the full team composition on our squad page.
What other exit options are there?
Besides a termination, a free transfer is being explored. In that scenario, the player would also have to make financial concessions. Sevilla has used this formula with other surplus players, agreeing to continue paying a percentage of the salary while the footballer plays elsewhere.
This could be the solution to the Cardoso deadlock. His camp remains somewhat optimistic and hopes for developments before the end of this week, although the gap between the parties is still significant. The Middle Eastern market is a possibility, but no concrete offer has materialised so far.
How does this affect Sevilla's planning?
The sporting direction, led by José Ignacio Navarro, has conducted a major clear-out this summer. The club has offloaded the high wages of players like Rafa Mir and Tanguy Nianzou, easing financial pressure. Cardoso's departure would be another step in this adjustment.
Keeping a player out of the plans while under contract represents a cost. Managing this situation efficiently is key for the club's financial health and for freeing up salary space. The upcoming LaLiga fixtures, which you can see on our fixtures page, will test the solidity of the defence built by the manager.
What is the defender's current situation?
Fábio Cardoso joined Sevilla last summer on a free transfer, signed by Antonio Cordón. He played few minutes under Gabriel Milito and did not feature at all under Luis García Plaza, who deemed him surplus for the 2026/27 season. This decision caused frustration for the player, who hoped for opportunities during pre-season.
His camp stated at the start of the summer that he would not cause problems for a move if an attractive offer arrived. However, with the window about to close, that offer has not appeared. The player is in limbo, separated from the main group and waiting for his future to be unblocked.
The window closure is imminent and resolving this case is one of the last pending tasks for Sevilla's board. The patience of both sides will be tested in the coming days.
