If you needed any further proof that money talks, Neymar (full name: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior) is the latest footballing phenom to join the Saudi Pro League after reportedly accepting a two-year deal with the Riyadh-based Al-Hilal valued at €160 million (AU$270 million).
While the news has yet to be officially announced by his current club, Paris Saint-Germain — and ink has yet to touch paper — the Brazilian’s six-year stint in the French capital appears to be over.
According to L’Equipe, the specific terms of the contract are still being negotiated between PSG and Al-Hilal; although the buyout for the last four years of Neymar’s PSG contract has been all but confirmed.
Neymar hasn’t played a game for Paris Saint-Germain since February, when a bad challenge took him out of the game — the same way his 2022 World Cup campaign was ended — and has since required reconstructive surgery on the ligaments in his ankle.
The star forward joins a growing number of international superstars who’ve defected from Europe to play for the Saudi Pro League in recent years, including:
- Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Manchester United to play for Al-Nassr under a €200 million contract
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad)
- N’Golo Kante (Chelsea to Al-Ittihad)
- Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich to Al-Nassr)
- and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool to Al-Ahli)
This comes just weeks after Al-Hilal’s staggering US$1.1 billion (AU$1.6 billion) bid for Neymar’s PSG teammate in Kylian Mbappe was turned down; and months after former teammate (slash reigning GOAT) Lionel Messi decided to sign with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami… where he’s currently stomping the competition.
