Brazilian football star Neymar and Al Hilal have agreed to end their contract together
Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal Club has said they and Brazil’s Neymar Santos Jr. have agreed to end his contract.
Leaving Al Hilal
Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League champion, thanked Neymar for his contributions to the team and wished him success in the future, as stated in a message on X.
Neymar suffered a knee injury in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier match between Brazil and Uruguay. This happened just two months after joining Al Hilal, and he has had difficulty returning to his best form since then.
Since moving from Paris St Germain (PSG) to Al Hilal for a reported $98.4 million (€90 million), Neymar has played only seven matches with the Saudi club. His salary details were not revealed, but football reporter Fabrizio Romano said it could be $300 million over two years, with a chance to increase to $400 million through bonuses and commercial deals.
According to a Reuters report citing Brazilian media, Neymar will return to his childhood club, Santos, which he left in 2013 to join Barcelona. In 2017, he moved from Barcelona to PSG for a record $231.45 million (€222 million).
During his six years at PSG, Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 matches, becoming the club’s fourth all-time top scorer.
Tangent
In November, Neymar bought a $54.4 million (AED 200 million) penthouse in Dubai’s Bugatti Residences. The luxury penthouse features a private car lift and a swimming pool with views of Downtown Dubai.
Saudi Football
In 2023, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought a majority stake in the Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad clubs. These clubs have attracted major stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar with big contracts.
Saudi clubs spent $957 million in the 2023 summer transfer window, ranking second after the English Premier League.
The Saudi sports ministry announced that privatizing football clubs has helped increase commercial revenue for the Pro League. The target is now $480 million (SAR 1.8 billion) per year.
In July 2024, the ministry said it would privatize more football clubs as part of the country’s economic plan.
In December 2024, Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The country has also started investing in other sports like Formula 1, professional golf, and boxing.
Published: 30th January 2025
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