After more than two decades away, Neymar has officially completed a heartfelt return to his boyhood club, Santos, following a frustrating 18-month spell at Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.
This move likely marks the end of his globe-trotting adventure. The Brazilian superstar, who first rose to prominence at Santos as a teenager, now looks to reignite his career at the club where it all began, after a somewhat underwhelming journey that included stints at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar bid farewell to Al Hilal with a social media post on Tuesday, expressing gratitude for the club’s support while acknowledging his disappointment at not being able to make a greater impact on the pitch. The 32-year-old forward endured an injury-riddled stint in Saudi Arabia, managing just seven appearances since his $94 million (€90m) transfer from PSG in 2023.
His time at Al Hilal was marred by recurring fitness issues, with his last competitive appearance coming in November 2023. Despite high expectations, Neymar found the net only once—a goal against Nassaji Mazandaran in the AFC Champions League group stage, which ultimately held little significance for the club.
That solitary goal may go down as one of the most expensive goals in football history. Apart from the $94 million transfer fee, Al Hilal reportedly paid an estimated $100 million in wages, meaning that his one goal effectively cost the club nearly $200 million.
During his brief tenure, Neymar managed only three league starts, making his move to Saudi Arabia one of the most underwhelming marquee transfers in recent years. His name now joins a list of high-profile signings that failed to live up to expectations, including Ousmane Dembélé, Philippe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Nicolas Pépé, João Félix, Jack Grealish, Alexis Sánchez, and Antony.
Returning to Santos could reignite Neymar’s fire. The Brazilian first joined the club’s youth setup in 2003 and later made his senior debut in 2009. His dazzling performances in Brazil earned him a move to Barcelona in 2013, where he became a global superstar before making record-breaking transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and, most recently, Al Hilal.
Santos fans will now be eager to see if their prodigal son can overcome his persistent injury troubles and recapture the magic that once made him one of the world’s most electrifying talents. Reports suggest that the deal is a short-term option for both the club and the player, keeping the door open for a potential reunion with his former Barcelona teammates at Inter Miami in the future.
As Neymar closes his Al Hilal chapter, he will be hoping that a return home can help him rediscover his footballing brilliance once again.
