After just seven games over a year and a half, Neymar is leaving the Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal spent more than $200 million on salary and transfer fees for the Brazilian legend and got only a single goal to show for it.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, who turns 33 next month, is reportedly heading back to his childhood club in Brazil, Santos, where he began his professional career.
Al Hilal said in a statement Monday that the club and Neymar “have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent” and wished him well going forward.
The Saudi club acquired Neymar in August 2023 with a $97.6 million transfer fee to PSG. In October of that year, he scored his only goal for the club during the group stage of the Asian Champions League Elite. That same month, he tore his ACL and meniscus in a World Cup qualifying match. He returned a year later, before sustaining a hamstring injury in November. Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said Neymar “can no longer play at the level we are used to.”
Al Hilal paid Neymar roughly $100 million per year. In leaving the club, he agreed to forfeit between $25 million and $30 million of the $65 million left on his deal through next summer, according to ESPN. That means the club paid him at least $160 million in salary, plus the $97 million they paid PSG for the transfer.
“To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, thank you! I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together,” Neymar posted on social media Tuesday. “To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences. I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life.”
Saudi Arabia may be losing one of the world’s most well-known players, but it remains extremely influential in global soccer. Last month, it was awarded the 2034 World Cup in a bidding process that has been criticized for, among other things, FIFA speeding up the process and steering it to the Saudis.
“I will be following your journey ahead as a club and a country towards 2034,” Neymar said in his post. “Your future will be incredible, special things are happening and I will always support you!!!”
