Neymar is officially back at Santos, the club that introduced him to professional football. Twelve years after his departure, the Brazilian forward has signed with Peixe, marking his return to his home country. “The prince is back” was the slogan chosen for the grand presentation organized by the São Paulo-based team.
Contract termination with Al Hilal and a new adventure in Brazil
To make this return possible, Neymar terminated his contract with Al Hilal five months before its original end date. The player decided to return to Brazil to revive his career and try to regain his place in the national team.
A contract until June with an option to extend
The new agreement with Santos runs until June, with the goal of competing in the Campeonato Paulista, the Brazilian Cup, and the Brasileirão. The club aims to extend his contract until December, a solution that would allow Neymar to regain form after a difficult period in Saudi Arabia.
His time at Al Hilal and a return to his roots
During his 16 months at Al Hilal, Neymar played only seven matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists. Arriving in August 2023 for around €90 million from PSG, the forward struggled to make an impact at the Saudi club due to multiple injuries.
Now, with his return to Santos, Neymar is back at the club where he was developed from the youth ranks (U11). During his first stint with Peixe, he won several major titles, including the Copa Libertadores (2011), the Campeonato Paulista (2010, 2011, and 2012), and the Brazilian Cup (2010).
Beyond his success in Brazil, Neymar also made history with FC Barcelona, where he formed the legendary “MSN” trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, winning numerous trophies and establishing himself as one of the biggest stars in world football.