Neymar ends his association with Al-Hilal after just 7 games played with a homecoming to Santos on the horizon.
Neymar has parted ways with Al-Hilal by mutual consent, the Saudi Pro League champions have said.
After suffering a knee injury during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in October 2023, the 32-year-old has had difficulty recovering. The club wrote on X, “Al-Hilal Club Company and Neymar Jr. have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent.”
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 in a deal worth up to £86 million, Neymar played just seven games for Al-Hilal. The attacker, who has scored 79 goals for his country, is expected to rejoin Santos, the team he left in 2013 to join Barcelona, according to Brazilian media. In August 2017, he paid a world record €222 million to join PSG from Barça.
Neymar scored one goal and provided two assists for Al-Hilal, whose contract was set to expire following the team’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Al-Hilal claimed that they conveyed to Neymar their “thanks and appreciation for what he has provided throughout his career.”
Neymar returned to action in October and made his most recent appearance in November. On 17 January he said in an interview he was considering playing again in Brazil. “I always said I want to play for Flamengo because of everything that involves Flamengo,” he said. “But Santos is my boyhood love, my home.”
Santos officials have expressed their desire for Neymar to return on several occasions. In order to better prepare for the World Cup the following year, which may be his only chance to win the competition, he is intent on gaining more playing time.