Neymar, world’s most expensive soccer star, signs for Saudi team

Neymar Jr., who previously moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a record transfer fee of €222 million ($243 million), is about to join Al-Hilal, the record champions of the Saudi Pro League.

The Brazil international is currently undergoing his medical exam, per multiple sources. According to CBS Sports, Al-Hilal will pay PSG a transfer fee of €90 million ($98 million) for the 31-year-old, whose contract with the Parisians was set to expire in 2025.

Neymar will sign a two-year contract will Al-Hilal, earning him an annual salary of €200 million ($219 million), CBS Sports reported.

In June 2023, Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the national sovereign wealth fund, took a 75% ownership stake in Al-Hilal and three other Saudi soccer clubs.

Following the PIF investment, many world-famous soccer players signed for Al-Nassr (Sadio Mane), Al-Ittihad (Karim Benzema), Al-Ahli (Roberto Firmino) and Al-Hilal, where Neymar will link up with Brazilian compatriot Malcom, among others.

Since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a blockbuster fee, Neymar has scored 118 goals and set up 77 goals in 173 matches for the French champions.

However, the Champions League title, the greatest trophy in European soccer, continues to elude PSG and the club’s high-spending Qatari owners.

For the past two seasons, Neymar was part of a star-trio attack, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Heading into the 2023/24 season, Paris Saint-Germain will have to compete for silverware without two of their fabulous three.

Messi departed for the North-American MLS, Neymar will soon play in the Saudi Pro League – and French national team captain Mbappe has informed PSG that he wants to leave the club in 2024 when his PSG contract expires.