Neymar ‘on brink of rejoining boyhood club Santos’ after Al-Hilal terminate his contract – after just seven outings in two seasons following £78m move
- Neymar’s contract has been terminated by Al-Hilal after 18 unfortunate months
- He looks poised to re-join byohhod club Santos, who he initially left in 2013
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Neymar appears on the brink of securing a romantic return to his boyhood club Santos in Brazil after Al-Hilal terminated his contract.
The Saudi Pro League side confirmed the news late on Monday evening in a short statement.
ESPN had already reported that Neymar and Santos have held talks over penning a six-month contract, with a year-long extension clause, to seal a return to the club where he made his debut aged 17 in 2009.
With a view to the deal being completed, Neymar is set to travel to Brazil this week, meaning he could play for Santos as soon as February 5.
His contract with Al-Hilal was the major roadblock standing in the way, but the Saudi Pro League side have cleared the path for his return.
Al-Hilal’s statement read: ‘Al-Hilal club company and Neymar Jr. have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent.
Neymar looks set to return to his boyhood club Santos after Al-Hilal terminated his contract
Things have not gone to plan for Neymar in Saudi Arabia since his blockbuster move from PSG
‘The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal and wish the player success in his career.’
According to Globo, Neymar was owed just over £52m from his Saudi contract and it’s believed he gave up a large chunk of that money to get out of his deal.
He may be Brazil’s all-time goalscorer, but the past few years of his career has been littered with varying degrees of injury and not the same success he enjoyed during his Barcelona prime.
The move to Santos is all but a done deal, with the Brazilian giants said to ‘have been preparing his homecoming presentation for days now’.
Thanks to an ACL injury early into his £77.6 million move from PSG, the Brazilian legend only managed 428 minutes of action across 18 months. He earned a reported £84.6million in 2024.
Neymar began his professional career with Santos in 2009 and was instrumental in helping them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011, as he scored in the second leg of the final, a 2-1 win over Uruguayan side Penarol.
While he has struggled for consistency in Saudi Arabia, Neymar remains a household name in world football thanks to his exploits alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez from the trio’s time together at Barcelona.
In that time, he was part of sides that won the UEFA Champions League in 2015, as well as two LaLiga titles, and three Copa del Reys.
The 32-year-old has made just seven appearances for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal
Neymar is set to move back to Santos after falling out of favour at Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal
He later moved to PSG in 2017, where he won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de Frances and two Coupe de la Ligues.
He has made 128 appearances for Brazil, and is the Selecao’s record goalscorer with 79 goals.
The forward was also part of the Brazil side that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, which took place in Rio de Janeiro.
