Neymar Returns to Santos FC After His Stint at Al-Hilal
Brazilian striker Neymar arrived in Brazil on Friday, just a day after announcing his return to Santos FC, the club where he began his professional career, following the termination of his contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal.
“It feels like I’m traveling back in time. I’m surrounded by my family and friends, and they helped me write this message. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” Neymar shared on Thursday, noting that he would sign a six-month contract with Santos.
The 32-year-old player, whose departure from Al-Hilal was announced on Monday, returns to the Vila Belmiro club after a twelve-year absence. He had left Santos in 2013 to join FC Barcelona.
In his statement, Neymar expressed his desire to regain his best form with Santos: “Only this club can provide me with the affection I need to prepare for the challenges of the coming years.”
Recovering from a knee injury sustained in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Neymar is currently undergoing rehabilitation to return to the pitch.
As the all-time leading scorer for the Brazilian national team, Neymar reached the peak of his club career while playing for FC Barcelona, where he won the Champions League in 2015 alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. In 2017, he left Spain to join Paris Saint-Germain for a record fee of €222 million. After a stint in Saudi Arabia, where he played only seven matches with Al-Hilal, he is now back at Santos to revive his career.
