Injury-hit Neymar has Al-Hilal contract terminated

Riyadh, January 28 — Neymar has had his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal terminated by mutual consent.

The 32-year-old Brazil international joined for 90m euros (£77.6m) in August 2023 but has only played seven times for the club after injuries.

Still the world's most expensive footballer after his £200m move to Paris St-Germain in 2017, he has only made two appearances this season - most recently a substitute appearance in November.

He has been heavily linked, external with a return to former club Santos in Brazil.

"The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career," Al-Hilal said.

Neymar had around seven months remaining on his contract, having joined Al-Hilal on a two-year deal with a reported wage of 150m euros (£129.2m) a year.

He joined claiming he wanted to "write new sporting history" but had a prolonged spell on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.

He returned in October last year and although he played down an apparent hamstring issue in his second match back, he has not featured since.

Neymar came through the youth system at Santos, where he scored 136 goals in 225 games, before a high-profile move to Barcelona in 2013.

He made 186 appearances across four seasons in Spain, winning two La Liga titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup before his world-record move to PSG as a 25-year-old.

In Paris he won five league titles prior to his move to Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after the move he overtook Pele to become Brazil's all-time leading male goalscorer with 78 goals, but has not played for his country since his initial knee injury in 2023.