NEYMAR has signed a two-year contract at Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal after six years with Paris St Germain in which the Brazil forward won several domestic trophies but not the Champions League the club craves.
No financial details were disclosed on Tuesday but the fee was reported to be about 90 million euros ($98.24 million) plus add-ons and subject to a medical for the 31-year-old.
French newspaper L'Equipe said the deal could net Neymar 160 million euros.
Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts.
"I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places," Neymar said after signing the contract on Tuesday in Paris.
"I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment.
"I have heard a lot and learned that I am following a long list of Brazilian players who have played in Saudi Arabia over the years, so I believe it is the desired place.
"I love winning and scoring goals, and I plan to continue doing that in Saudi Arabia and with Al-Hilal."
RECORD FEE
Neymar joined PSG in 2017 from Barcelona for a world record fee of 222 million euros. He scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for the Paris club and won numerous trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles.
Neymar won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 but had to settle for a runners-up medal in the 2020 final, which PSG lost to Bayern Munich.
"It is inevitably difficult to say goodbye to a club legend, which Neymar will always be," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in a club statement.
"I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, nor what he has brought to our club and our project over the last six years.
"We've had some extraordinary moments and Neymar will always be part of our history. I would like to thank him and his family."
Neymar has also played 124 times for Brazil, scoring 77 goals - a joint-record alongside three-time World Cup winner Pele. He was part of the Brazil team which won the Confederations Cup in 2013.
SAUDI TRANSFERS
The most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for number of league and Asian Champions League titles with 18 and four respectively.
Strengthening the squad is a priority for the Riyadh-based club after the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced in June an investment and privatisation project for sports clubs involving league champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.
The Saudi Pro League season kicked off on Friday after spending close to half a billion dollars luring a host of top players and coaches from European sides.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr last season soon after the Qatar World Cup in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet, while Al-Ittihad signed French striker Karim Benzema from Real Madrid.
UEFA Champions League winners Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino have all signed for Al-Ahli.
Al-Hilal also tried to sign Neymar's former team mates France striker Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, but the Argentine eventually opted for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.
Reuters
Wed Aug 16 2023
Al Hilal's new signing Neymar holds the team jersey as he poses with President Fahd bin Saad Al-Nafel. - Saudi Pro League/via REUTERS
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 27 April 2024.
Al Hilal rai Neymar penuh meriah
Neymar disambut penuh meriah oleh ribuan peminat Al-Hilal selepas menjadi pemain kelab dunia terbaharu menyertai Liga Pro Saudi.
Era baharu Mitrovic di Al-Hilal
Mitrovic tidak bermain dalam perlawanan derbi London Barat selepas mengalami kecederaan pada perlawanan pembukaan musim hujung minggu lalu.
Liga Pro Saudi gamit Neymar
Penyerang berusia 31 tahun tidak bermain ketika perlawanan pembukaan PSG menentang Football Club Lorient Bretagne Sud di Parc des Princes.
PSG terima tawaran Al-Hilal tandatangani Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain telah menerima tawaran daripada kelab Liga Pro Saudi Al-Hilal untuk menandatangani Neymar.
Piala Juara-Juara Kelab Arab: Ronaldo inspirasi Al-Nassr muncul juara
Cristiano Ronaldo memenangi trofi pertamanya bersama Al-Nassr apabila memenangi Piala Juara-Juara Kelab Arab buat kali pertama.
Mbappe tak minat tawaran RM1.5 bilion
Bintang Perancis itu dilaporkan menolak sebarang perbincangan dengan wakil kelab Al-Hilal yang hadir ke Paris pada Rabu.
Lionel Messi sertai kelab bola sepak Arab Saudi?
Tawaran dari kelab Al-Hilal, bernilai sekitar RM1.8 bilion setahun, merupakan satu-satunya tawaran yang diterima Messi setakat ini.
Piala Dunia Kelab: Jaringan tunggal Lukaku bawa Chelsea ke final
Pemenang UCL 2020-21 itu mara ke final untuk mengadakan pertemuan dengan Palmeiras selepas mengatasi juara Asia itu 1-0.
Al-Hilal jaguh kelab Asia
Biarpun menguasai separuh masa pertama, Urawa gagal memecah kebuntuan perlawanan untuk Al-Hilal membalas dendam kekecewaan dalam perlawanan akhir edisi 2017.