Al Hilal announce the signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. from PSG
Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal have announced the signing of Neymar Jr. from PSG on Tuesday, August 15. It is believed that the transfer fee for Neymar is approximately 90 million euros.
In Short
- Neymar joined PSG in 2017 for a world record transfer
- It is believed that the transfer fee for Neymar is approximately 90 million euros
- PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi thanked Neymar for his contributions to the club
Brazilian superstar Neymar has officially transferred from Paris St Germain to Al-Hilal, as announced by the Saudi club on Tuesday.
The specifics of the deal remain undisclosed, but it is believed that the transfer fee is approximately 90 million euros ($98.24 million), with additional add-ons for the 31-year-old player. It was revealed on August 14 that the Brazilian superstar had undergone a medical with the club and was close to a move to Saudi Arabia.
Neymar became the latest big name to sign for a club in the Saudi Pro League, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane plying their trade in the Middle East.
Neymar's journey with PSG began in 2017 when he moved from Barcelona for a record-breaking fee of 222 million euros. During his tenure with the French champions, Neymar made significant contributions, scoring 118 goals in 173 matches and aiding the team in securing numerous victories, including five Ligue 1 titles.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi thanked Neymar for his contributions to the club and said the Brazilian will always be a part of their history.
"It is inevitably difficult to say goodbye to a club legend, which Neymar will always be," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in a club statement.
"I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, nor what he has brought to our club and our project over the last six years.
"We've had some extraordinary moments and Neymar will always be part of our history. I would like to thank him and his family."
Al-Hilal, the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and Asia with 66 trophies to its name, had also shown interest in signing Neymar's former teammates, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. However, Messi chose to join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.
Al Hilal, based in Riyadh, holds the record for the highest number of league and Asian Champions League titles, with 18 and four respectively. The acquisition of Neymar is part of Al-Hilal's strategic plan to bolster their squad, following the announcement of an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs by the Saudi Public Investment Fund in June. This project involves league champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal.