August 14, (THEWILL) – Brazilian superstar Neymar is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain after agreeing to a deal with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
The transfer fee is said to be around €90 million plus additional bonuses. The move comes after months of speculation over Neymar’s future in Paris. He joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record €222 million, but missed the club’s opening Ligue 1 match this past weekend due to illness. Over his time with Les Parisiens, Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 appearances and helped PSG dominate domestically.
However, success in the UEFA Champions League has eluded both Neymar and PSG, giving the story of transfer added impetus. Al Hilal had previously tried to lure Neymar’s teammate Kylian Mbappe and former teammate Lionel Messi away from Paris. Now it appears they have landed one of world football’s biggest stars.
Al Hilal is the most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, having won a record 18 league titles and four Asian Champions League crowns. Strengthening the squad has been a top priority, as the Saudi sovereign wealth fund announced plans in June to invest in and privatise Al Hilal along with other top Saudi clubs.
Adding a global icon like Neymar represents a major coup for Al Hilal as it seeks to raise its international profile. The move also reflects the growing ambition of Saudi Arabian football backed by significant investment.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
