August 15, (THEWILL) – Brazilian superstar, Neymar Jr., has become the latest high-profile player to join the Saudi Pro League after completing a blockbuster transfer to Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 31-year-old forward joins the Riyadh-based club for a fee that could rise to €100 million, ending his 6-year stay in Paris. Neymar’s capture is a major coup for Al Hilal and continues the recent trend of elite players moving to Saudi Arabia, following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and others. He departed PSG having scored 118 goals in 173 matches and winning 5 Ligue 1 titles since his world record €222 million move from Barcelona in 2017.
The transfer sees Neymar link up with former Wolves captain, Ruben Neves and ex-Chelsea defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, at the Saudi champions. Al Hilal will be hoping the Brazilian can help propel them to further domestic and continental success. Neymar’s departure from PSG comes after he was left out of manager Luis Enrique’s matchday squad for their opening league fixture.
PSG Chief Executive, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, praised Neymar’s contributions during his time at the club. “It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world,” he said. “I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, and what he has contributed to our club and our project over the last six years.”
At 31, Neymar will be hoping his move can reinvigorate his career. The Brazilian’s switch concludes a drawn-out transfer saga and begins an exciting new chapter in his storied career.
About the Author
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.
