Current Situation at Al Hilal: Neymar remains on the roster of Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, but manager Jorge Jesus stated in early January that the Brazilian forward could no longer play at the level the team requires. As a result, Neymar was not registered to play in the Pro League, leaving him eligible to participate only in the AFC Champions League.
Contract Termination in Progress: According to ESPN, Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal is likely to be terminated, with final details still under negotiation. The two sides are expected to meet early this week in hopes of reaching an agreement. If successful, Neymar, 32 years old, will sign a six-month contract with Santos, his former club, with an option to extend the deal for an additional year.
Expected Return to Santos: Should the deal with Santos go through, Neymar is expected to travel to Brazil this week and could make his debut for Santos as early as early February. If Al Hilal terminates his contract, which runs until the summer, Neymar will reportedly walk away with $65 million.
Challenges at Al Hilal: Neymar’s time at Al Hilal has been plagued by injuries since his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for $97.6 million. He returned to action briefly in October but suffered a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since. Neymar has made just seven league and cup appearances for Al Hilal, scoring once in an AFC Champions League group stage match against Nassaji Mazandaran in October 2023.
Career Highlights: Neymar’s career has been marked by moments of brilliance. He enjoyed a stellar spell at Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. During that time, he helped the team win one UEFA Champions League, two La Liga titles, and three Copa del Rey trophies. After moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France trophies, and two Coupe de la Ligue titles. He began his professional career at Santos in 2009, leading them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011.
