Neymar and Al-Hilal have reached an agreement to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent, as announced by the club on Monday. The 32-year-old forward made a high-profile move to the Saudi club in August 2023 for a reported €90 million ($98.5M). However, injuries have plagued Neymar's time at Al-Hilal, limiting him to just seven appearances since his arrival.
Shortly after joining Al-Hilal, Neymar suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023, which kept him sidelined until October 2024. Despite making a return to the pitch, Neymar only played two games before facing another period of absence starting in November.
In a statement, the club expressed its gratitude to Neymar for his contributions during his time with Al-Hilal and wished him success in his future endeavors. Neymar, who recorded one goal and two assists for the Saudi club, is reportedly set to return to his boyhood club Santos, where he began his professional career.
As the world's most expensive player following his €222 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, Neymar is a highly sought-after talent. The Brazilian international left Santos in 2013 to join Barcelona, where he achieved significant success, including winning the Champions League and two La Liga titles.
During his time in France with PSG, Neymar secured five league titles but fell short of clinching the coveted Champions League trophy with the club. Reports suggest that Neymar's return to Santos could be finalized as early as this week, marking a significant homecoming for the Seleção's all-time leading goal scorer.
Neymar originally debuted for Santos in 2009 and played a pivotal role in the team's triumph in the Copa Libertadores in 2011. Santos has recently earned promotion back to Serie A, Brazil's top division, after a successful campaign in Serie B in 2024.
