Neymar announces signing with Saudi Pro League, departure from Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar is the latest soccer superstar to join the Saudi Pro League.
Al Hilal announced the Brazilian forward signed with the team Tuesday with a cinematic video posted to social media that Neymar reposted.
Neymar, 31, reportedly inked a two-year deal that will pay him about $100 million per year. The Saudi side and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly agreed on a transfer fee of $98 million (€90 million), the largest in the league yet, per the Associated Press.
Neymar's contract with the French club runs through 2025 after he signed an extension in 2021. When he signed with PSG in 2017, his $262 million (€222 million) transfer fee was a world record.
This spring, Neymar injured his ankle and underwent surgery, which ended his season. He had 13 goals in 20 appearances.
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Cristiano Ronaldo joined Saudi club Al Nassr in December with a deal that will pay him a reported $200 million per year. Since his move, other soccer stars – including Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante – have signed with teams in the Saudi Pro League.
Neymar is the second star to leave PSG after Lionel Messi departed for Inter Miami CF of the MLS. Messi was also courted by Al Hilal. The Argentinian icon has scored eight goals for Miami since his debut in Leagues Cup play last month against Cruz Azul, during which he scored the game-winning goal.
Kylian Mbappé is also reportedly on the way out from Paris Saint-Germain and received a $332 million offer from Al Hilal, which he has not accepted. Amid a contract dispute, he was back practicing with the Ligue 1 side this weekend.
Neymar, who has built his fame off his fluid style of play on the pitch and flashy lifestyle off of it, started his career as a teenager on Brazilian club Santos FC. In 2013 at the age 21, he joined FC Barcelona and played with Messi for four seasons before leaving for PSG. Messi joined him at the French club in 2021.
For Brazil, Neymar is the national team's leading goal-scorer, tied with legend Pelé with 77 scores. Neymar has appeared in three World Cups. Seleção made it to the semifinals in his first tournament in 2014 and has been knocked out in the quarterfinals in the two subsequent competitions.
