Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain dribbles in the pre-season friendly against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Busan Asiad Stadium in Busan, South Korea, August 3, 2023. /CFP
Al Hilal of the Saudi Professional League have agreed to pay 90 million euros (about $98.1 million) to acquire Brazilian star striker Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) of Ligue 1, according to ESPN.
Neymar will ink a two-year contract that includes the option for the third year with the Saudi club. CBS revealed that the 31-year-old Brazilian will make 200 million euros (about $218 million) in his new team.
Six years ago, PSG paid a record 222 million euros (about $239.9 million) to land Neymar from Barcelona. He has scored 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 games for the French heavyweights since then. He was joined by Kylian Mbappe in 2018 and former Barca teammate Lionel Messi in 2021, making one of the most eye-catching trios in football history.
PSG continued to collect Ligue 1 titles with the three stars on their roster, but failed to achieve any breakthrough in the UEFA Champions League. Messi left as a free agent this summer. Mbappe, who has one year left of his current deal, refuses to extend it.
L-R: Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain attend the ceremony to celebrate winning the 2022-23 Ligue 1 title at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, June 3, 2023. /CFP
Last week, French newspaper L'Equipe reported that Neymar wants to part ways with PSG. Though Barca intended to sign him back as their poster player, they don't have enough money to make the transfer happen.
By contrast, Al Hilal, which were purchased by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in June as part of the country's "Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project" together with Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Ittithad, have deep enough pockets to continue poaching the European football world.
Al Hilal already signed Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio this summer.