Neymar and Al-Hilal agree to terminate player’s contract by mutual consent
3 min readNeymar and Al-Hilal have agreed to mutually terminate the player’s contract, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Monday. The 32-year-old Brazilian forward joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 in a high-profile move valued at €90 million ($98.5 million). However, a series of injuries have severely limited his playing time, with Neymar featuring in only seven matches for the club since his arrival.
Neymar’s time at Al-Hilal was marred by significant setbacks, particularly his devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in October 2023. This injury sidelined him for nearly a full year, with expectations that he would return to action in October 2024. Despite his return to fitness, Neymar played only two games before being sidelined again in November due to further injury issues.
Al-Hilal, while parting ways with the star forward, expressed their gratitude for his contributions to the team during his brief stint at the club. “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal and wishes the player success in his career,” the club stated in an official announcement. Neymar’s record at Al-Hilal consisted of one goal and two assists, which was far less than the club had hoped for when they signed him.
The Brazilian international, who is still regarded as the most expensive player in the world due to his 2017 transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for $263 million, is now reportedly set to return to Brazil. According to widespread media reports in Brazil, Neymar is on his way back to his boyhood club, Santos, where his professional career began. Neymar made his professional debut for Santos in 2009, and at just 19 years old, he was instrumental in the club’s 2011 Copa Libertadores victory, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League, scoring in the final.
His move to Barcelona in 2013 saw him join one of the greatest attacking trios in football history, the ‘MSN’ combination with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. While at Barcelona, Neymar won two La Liga titles and the Champions League, cementing his status as one of the best forwards in the world.
In 2017, Neymar made a shocking move to PSG for a world-record transfer fee of $263 million, where he continued to showcase his talent. While at PSG, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles but was unable to help the club achieve its ultimate goal: winning the UEFA Champions League. Neymar’s tenure in Paris was marked by moments of brilliance but also frustration as injuries plagued his time in France.
Now, with his contract at Al-Hilal ending prematurely, Neymar is reportedly negotiating a return to Santos, the club where he began his career. Santos, which had been relegated to Brazil’s Serie B, is now back in Serie A after securing promotion in 2024. Neymar’s return to his former club is expected to bring a wave of excitement to Brazilian football, and Santos’ supporters are eager to see the return of their star player, who helped put the club on the map during his youth.
If the deal is finalized as expected, Neymar’s return to Santos would mark the end of a chapter in his career that began with great promise but was overshadowed by injury and missed opportunities at the biggest clubs in Europe and the Middle East. Neymar’s future at Santos could reignite his career as he seeks to regain his fitness and prove he still has the ability to perform at the highest levels of the game. For now, the 32-year-old forward looks to return to the club where he once made history, potentially adding another memorable chapter to his already illustrious career.
Source: CNN
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