Calay News
The Saudi club announced the transfer through a video on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The 31-year-old Brazilian player, dressed in the blue kit of his new team, Al-Hilal, said in English: “I am here in Saudi Arabia; I am part of Al-Hilal.”
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, PSG president, said in a statement on the Parisian club’s website: “It is always difficult to say goodbye to an exceptional player like Neymar, one of the best in the world.”
When Neymar arrived in Paris in 2017 from FC Barcelona for a record €220 million, he was billed as a star, but over the years, injuries and off-pitch problems made him an undesirable player.
Faced with the tempting offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar accepted a contract that would earn him a salary of “100 million euros per season (around $110 million),” according to sources close to the negotiations. The contract with the Saudi club is for two seasons, and PSG will receive almost 100 million euros as part of the agreement.
This team change for Neymar comes at a time when Kylian Mbappé has renewed his commitment to PSG after a protracted contract dispute.
From a sporting perspective, Neymar’s time at PSG was characterized by disappointment. Despite registering 118 goals and 70 assists in 173 games in all competitions, he failed to lead PSG to a Champions League victory.
The relationship between Neymar and the Parisian fans never managed to fully consolidate. In 2019, barely two years after his arrival, Neymar tried to return to FC Barcelona, but PSG retained him and renewed his contract until 2027.
Changes in the management of the club and Neymar’s injuries contributed to his departure, despite his outstanding performance in the first half of the 2022–2023 season.
PSG, which is looking to renew its squad, is determined to go ahead with transfers, as in the case of Marco Verratti. Neymar also considered a change after being harassed by the Parisian ultras, which culminated in his separation from PSG.
