Neymar set for return to boyhood club Santos, verbal agreement reached

Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. is on the verge of making a sensational return to his boyhood club, Santos, following reports that his contract with Al Hilal will likely be terminated.

Sources close to ESPN revealed that final details are being negotiated, signaling the end of his short stint with the Saudi Arabian club.

Football insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the development on Sunday, noting that a verbal agreement has already been reached between Neymar and Santos.

“Formal steps will follow next week for the finalization of the deal. Neymar has already said yes to the move,” Romano shared on his X handle.

If all goes as planned, Neymar could return to Brazil this week and make his first appearance for Santos on February 5th, his 33rd birthday.

Neymar joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a $97.6 million fee. However, his time in Saudi Arabia was marred by injuries and limited appearances.

The 32-year-old featured in only seven matches, scoring one goal in the AFC Champions League against Nassaji Mazandaran on October 3, 2023.

The forward began his illustrious career with Santos in 2009, where he led the team to Copa Libertadores glory in 2011, scoring in the second leg of the final against Peñarol.

Neymar’s return is expected to reignite nostalgia among fans who watched him develop into one of the world’s most electrifying talents.

At the international level, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. He also played a key role in Brazil’s gold medal triumph at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.