Report: Neymar Signs 2-Year Contract with Saudi Pro League's Al-Hilal; PSG Get $98.6M | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Mia Morrison Neymar will be the newest star to call the Saudi Pro League home after Al-Hilal agreed to a €90 million ($98.6 million) fee with Paris Saint-Germain, according to ESPN's Julien Laurens.
French newspaper L'Equipe (via the Associated Press) reported the Brazilian star will earn €160 million over two years with Al Hilal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal has been completed and Neymay is expected to make the trip to Saudi Arabia later this week:
Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomanoNeymar Jr to Al Hilal, deal now signed! All documents are completed — and medical tests were also successfully passed earlier today 🔵🇸🇦<br><br>🛩️ Told Neymar is expected to travel to Saudi later this week, not on Tuesday per current plan.<br><br>Deal sealed, Ney joins Saudi league. <a href="">
The Independent's Miguel Delaney reported "Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City turned down a chance to sign to bring the 31-year-old in, primarily due to a huge transfer and similar salary package.
"The only club who were interested were his former side Barcelona, but they only wanted Neymar on loan with an option to buy, and that still required the exit of at least four players to make happen."
For some, the move symbolizes a failure by Neymar to fulfill the massive potential he displayed as a teenager in Brazil and then with Barcelona. The European chapter of his career could be over entirely now that he's off to Saudi Arabia, and he ultimately doesn't have much to show for his time after leaving Barça in August 2017.
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaneyThe Neymar story quite sad in some ways - what a waste of talent, really.<br><br>He had, what, two, maybe three seasons when he really made best of his talent?<a href="">
The 31-year-old won five Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain, but the club failed to lift the Champions League trophy it coveted so desperately. On an individual level, he hasn't finished any higher than third in the Ballon d'Or voting, the most recent of which was in 2017.
Per FBref, Neymar averaged more goals (0.79) and assists (0.46) per 90 minutes at PSG than he did with Barcelona in domestic league fixtures, yet his time in France will likely be viewed by most as a disappointment.
The general attitude toward Monday's transfer is that Al-Hilal has alleviated a significant headache for PSG.
Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_Weird that people keep asking whether the Saudi Premier League is a threat to Europe's biggest clubs when so far it has mostly proved to be a gigantic bailout of dreadful decisions like PSG signing Neymar or the 150 players signed by Chelsea last summer
It may not be a total coincidence the agreement between the clubs materialized at the same time Laurens reported Paris Saint-Germain grew more confident about Mbappé staying in the French capital. Until now, the signs have all pointed to his exit this summer or next.
With Messi and Neymar gone, Mbappé's influence on and off the pitch will only grow, which might suit him and the club just fine.