Neymar Set to Return to Santos After Departing Al Hilal, confirmed by chief

Neymar is returning to his boyhood club, Santos, nearly 12 years after leaving for Barcelona. After a disappointing spell at Al Hilal, where he scored once in seven matches, Neymar terminated his contract by mutual consent. He won six titles with Santos, including the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Neymar is expected to rejoin Santos soon and receive a warm welcome from fans.

In the latest football news, Neymar has confirmed his return to Santos, his boyhood club, nearly 12 years after leaving for higher-profile European teams. The Brazil international's departure from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal came after a disappointing, injury-ridden spell, where he only managed seven appearances and scored once.

Neymar joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 for €90 million, but his time in the Saudi Pro League was marred by an ACL injury sustained while playing for Brazil in October 2023. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2025.

Neymar's move back to Santos marks a reunion with the club where he made his professional debut in 2009, winning six major titles, including the Copa Libertadores in 2011. Santos, who had been relegated to Brazil's second division in 2023 before being promoted again, has long been expected to welcome Neymar's return, with fans eagerly awaiting his reintroduction to the team. Despite his injury setbacks, Neymar remains focused on regaining fitness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which could be his final chance to win the prestigious tournament.