Brazilian football star Neymar is officially leaving Saudi club Al-Hilal after an injury-riddled stint and is set to make a homecoming to Santos, the club where he first rose to prominence.
On Monday, Al-Hilal announced that Neymar’s contract had been terminated by mutual consent. The Brazilian forward had joined the Saudi club from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 for a staggering €90 million ($94 million). However, his time in Saudi Arabia was marred by injuries, limiting him to just seven matches in 17 months.
Neymar suffered a severe ACL injury while playing for Brazil in October 2023, keeping him out of action for most of his tenure at Al-Hilal. Despite his absence, the club still managed to secure the Saudi Pro League title last season.
In a farewell message on social media, Neymar expressed gratitude to the club and fans.
“I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together,” he wrote. “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.”
Return to Santos on the Horizon
São Paulo-based media outlets have reported that Neymar is expected to return to Brazil this week, with plans to reintroduce himself to Santos fans in the coming days. However, his spokeswoman, Day Franco, stated that the player had no official comment on the move at this time.
Despite the lack of a formal announcement, Neymar acknowledged a post from Kely Nascimento, daughter of Brazilian legend Pelé, who celebrated his return to Santos.
“(My father) must be taking bicycle kicks in heaven after finding out that our boy is coming back home,” Nascimento wrote on Instagram. Neymar responded with a heart emoji, further fueling anticipation among fans.
Santos, Neymar’s boyhood club, was relegated to Brazil’s second division in 2023 but quickly bounced back to the top flight this season. Fans have been eagerly awaiting his return, even circulating an old video featuring Pelé’s voice urging Neymar to don Santos’ iconic No. 10 jersey again.
Future Goals and World Cup Hopes
Neymar’s last professional match was in November 2023, and Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus had expressed doubts about his fitness. His focus now appears to be on regaining match fitness and preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America—possibly his final shot at winning football’s most prestigious trophy.
Earlier in June, Neymar had denied any plans to return to Santos, stating he was committed to fulfilling his Al-Hilal contract. “Obviously, Santos is the club in my heart, and one day I do want to come back. But there’s no plan in my head,” he had said at the time.
However, circumstances have changed, and his impending return to Brazil marks the next chapter in the career of the country’s all-time top goal scorer with 79 goals in 125 international appearances.
With Santos preparing to welcome their prodigal son, fans and football enthusiasts worldwide will be keen to see whether Neymar can regain his form and lead the club to success once more.
