Neymar Departs PSG, And Joins Saudi Arabian Side Al-Hilal On A Mega Contract.

Neymar Jr officially joins Saudi Arabian club side Al Hilal.

Negotiations for Neymar had started last week, accelerated over the weekend and now everything has been confirmed.

Deal completed by his father Neymar Pai and super agent Pini Zahavi. 

Neymar signed a two-season contract that will include him participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the US, state-run television channel AlEkhbariya reported on social media. 

The Brazilian leaves Paris Saint-Germain after a long spell since his arrival in 2017 for a world-record fee 222 million euros, and played 173 games, scoring 118 goals and 77 assists.

He helped the club win 13 trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles, as well as reaching the 2020 Champions League final, but now sees his time with the Parisian club come to an end.

Neymar failed to lift the coveted Champions League with PSG, and his time was marked by several highs and many lows which seemed to always be hampered by numerous injuries. In total he has missed 119 games due to physical problems.

He had surgery in March that caused him to miss the rest of the season and he only resumed training in July.

Neymar missed two of Brazil's matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after being injured in their opening group match.

He also missed the 2019 Copa America after suffering torn ligaments in his right ankle and was out for several weeks in 2021 with a similar injury.

 

Neymar was left out of PSG squad for Saturday's Ligue 1 disappointing draw against Lorient, and was not part of coach Luis Enrique's plans for the new season.

"It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world, said Nasser Al-Khelaifi, PSG's president and chief executive.

"I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris St-Germain, and what he has contributed to our club and our project over the last six years."

The 31-year-old now finally joins the Saudi Pro League, which also features the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Roberto Firmino Jordan Henderson, and Sadio Mané.

According to reports, Al-Hilal was the team that made the best offer to PSG and Neymar, as the Major League Soccer (MLS) where former teammate Lionel Messi currently plays in, was not a viable option.

Al-Hilal will pay a transfer fee of over 90 million euros (£77.6m) plus add-ons, and Neymar will have a huge contract.

Neymar was understood to be earning an annual salary in the region of 25m euros (£21.6m) at the French side, but will now reportedly be paid 150m euros (£129.2m) a year in Saudi Arabia, that is six times the amount he earned at PSG.

"I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali," Neymar said in a video posted to the club's social media accounts.

“I am here in Saudi Arabia, i am HILALI 💙”@neymarjr #AlHilal
pic.twitter.com/q7VUhf0FnQ

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 15, 2023

Al Hilal have already recruited some high-profile players this summer (Neymar's new team-mates), which includes the likes of ex-Wolves captain Ruben Neves, former Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, formerly of Lazio, and former Barcelona winger Malcom who were all signed for big fees.

Neymar's departure comes two days after PSG star Kylian Mbappe who was also left out of the squad for the Lorient game and watched the match from the stands, has now been reintegrated back into first-team training after positive talks with the club.

Last month, PSG gave Al-Hilal permission to talk to 24-year-old after the Saudi side made a world-record £259m bid, but Mbappe blatantly refused the move.

The French World Cup winner had been in a contract stand-off amid a desire to join Real Madrid but could now extend his contract at PSG, with his current deal due to expire next summer.