Neymar to leave PSG for Al-Hilal, Saudi football club confirms

Issued on: 15/08/2023 – 02:12Modified: 15/08/2023 – 19:06

1 min

No details were disclosed but the transfer was reported to be for a fee of about 90 million euros ($98.24 million) plus add-ons and subject to a medical for the 31-year-old.

Neymar joined PSG in 2017 from Barcelona for a world record fee of 222 million euros. He scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for the Paris club and won numerous trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles.

“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 also tried to sign Neymar’s former team mates France striker Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, but the Argentine eventually opted for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.

The most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for number of league and Asian Champions League titles with 18 and four respectively.

Strengthening the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club after the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced in June an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs involving league champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

(Reuters)