Brazilian forward Neymar has reached an agreement to return to Santos, nearly 12 years after leaving the team, according to club president Marcelo Teixeira. Neymar confirmed that he terminated his contract with Saudi club Al Hilal. The 32-year-old player, once hailed as one of the best footballers in the world, was out of the game for a year due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
"Neymar played very little in Saudi Arabia due to an injury he suffered in a match for the Brazilian national team in October 2023. His contract with Al Hilal was set to end after the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States," the club's statement noted.
Neymar, who scored just one goal and provided two assists for Al Hilal, returns to Santos, the club where he was developed and where he won six titles, including the Copa Libertadores in 2011. "You, Neymar, said goodbye to Santos to fulfill your dreams, but you left a promise that we never forgot: 'I’m leaving, but I will come back,'" Teixeira expressed in a video broadcast on Instagram.
Neymar is expected to return to Brazil this week to be officially presented in the coming days. Media in Sao Paulo reported that the player's return was highly anticipated by Santos fans. Since last week, a video was circulated where Pelé's voice requested Neymar to return and wear the iconic number 10 jersey.
Neymar, who became the most expensive player in history when he was sold from Barcelona to PSG in 2017, is now focused on getting minutes to better prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which could mean his last chance to win the tournament. In a farewell message on his social media, Neymar thanked Al Hilal for providing him with a new home and experiences and expressed excitement about his return to Santos.
