Al Hilal and Neymar Part Ways, Setting the Stage for Return to Santos

Al Hilal announced on Monday that they have mutually agreed with Neymar to terminate his contract, paving the way for the Brazilian forward to potentially return to his former club, Santos. The Saudi Pro League team confirmed the departure through their social media platforms and wished Neymar success in his future endeavors.
The 32-year-old is reportedly set to rejoin Santos, the club where he began his career, with sources suggesting that Neymar will sign a six-month deal, with an option to extend for another year. It is expected that he could be in Brazil as early as Wednesday to finalize the agreement. However, it remains unclear how the two parties resolved the reported $65 million remaining on Neymar's contract with Al Hilal, which was due to run through the summer.
Neymar’s time at Al Hilal was marred by injuries, following his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for $97.6 million. After tearing his ACL while on international duty, he made his return to the field in October 2023 but struggled with a hamstring injury that limited his appearances. Neymar only played seven games for Al Hilal, scoring once in an AFC Champions League match.
Despite his difficulties in Saudi Arabia, Neymar remains a major figure in world football. He achieved significant success during his time at Barcelona, winning multiple trophies, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga titles, and Copa del Reys, alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. Later, his move to PSG saw him collect five Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, and two League Cups.
Neymar’s career began at Santos in 2009, where he led the club to a Copa Libertadores victory in 2011. Santos recently secured promotion to Brazil's top division after winning the Serie B title in 2024. On the international stage, Neymar holds the record for most goals scored for Brazil and was part of the team that won the 2016 Olympic gold medal.