Brazilian football star Neymar Jr., currently playing for Al Hilal, is reportedly nearing a return to his former club, Santos, according to sources speaking with ESPN on Sunday.
Sources revealed that Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal is expected to be terminated soon, although the final details are still being worked out.
A post from renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano’s X account on Sunday confirmed that Neymar’s return to Santos is imminent, following a verbal agreement between the parties.
“Formal procedures will take place next week to finalize the deal with Al Hilal, and contracts will be reviewed. Neymar has already agreed to the move,” the post stated.
Should the transfer to Santos go through, Neymar is expected to fly to Brazil this week and could make his debut for the club on February 5, which coincidentally marks his 33rd birthday.
It is worth noting that Neymar, the world’s most expensive footballer, joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a transfer fee of $97.6 million. However, the 32-year-old only made seven appearances in league and cup competitions, scoring just one goal in an AFC Champions League match against Nassaji Mazandaran on October 3, 2023.
Neymar began his professional career at Santos in 2009, helping the club win the prestigious Copa Libertadores in 2011 by scoring in the second leg of the final, which saw them triumph 2-1 over Peñarol.
On the international stage, Neymar has earned 128 caps for Brazil, netting a record 79 goals. He was also a member of the Brazilian team that claimed the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
