Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. is set to make a return to his boyhood club, Santos FC, after mutually terminating his contract with Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal.
The move comes after a tumultuous and injury-plagued spell in the Saudi Pro League, dashing hopes of a potential “MSN” reunion with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami.
Neymar joined Al Hilal in a record-breaking transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last year, but persistent injuries, including a torn ACL, severely limited his playing time.
With his contract set to expire in June, speculation swirled about a possible move to Major League Soccer to link up with his former Barcelona teammates.
However, reliable sources confirm Neymar will instead be returning to the club where he first rose to prominence.
To facilitate the move, Neymar is reportedly agreeing to a substantial pay cut, foregoing millions of dollars from his remaining contract with Al Hilal.
Reports suggest he will forego a significant portion of the $65 million remaining on his contract, potentially as much as $25-30 million.
Neymar is expected to sign a short-term contract with Santos, likely for six months with an option to extend.
The club, having recently secured promotion to the Brazilian Serie A, will be eager to welcome back their prodigal son and capitalize on his star power.
Neymar, a record-breaking goalscorer for the Brazilian national team, recently announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his last.
