Neymar, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar has officially joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a two-year deal. The transfer fee was reportedly around €90 million ($98.24 million) plus add-ons.
Neymar, 31, had been linked with a move away from PSG for some time, and his departure comes after the club failed to win the Champions League in his six years at the club.
He won five Ligue 1 titles and four Coupe de France titles with PSG, but he was never able to lead the club to European glory.
Al-Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, and they are hoping that Neymar can help them win their first Champions League title. The club also has a number of other high-profile players, including Carlos Eduardo, Moussa Marega, and Odion Ighalo.
Neymar is expected to make his debut for Al-Hilal in their next match against Al-Faisaly on August 20. He will be wearing the number 10 shirt for the club.
In a statement, Neymar said: “I am excited to join Al-Hilal and to play in the Saudi Pro League. I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places.”
Also Read: Just Stop Oil protester storms AIG Women’s Open. Charley Hull got furious.
“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment. I am looking forward to meeting my new teammates and fans, and I can’t wait to start playing for Al-Hilal.” he added.
Al-Hilal chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said: “We are delighted to welcome Neymar to Al-Hilal. He is one of the best players in the world, and he will be a huge asset to our club. We are confident that he will help us achieve our goals, and we look forward to seeing him in action in the coming months.”
Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal is the latest in a series of high-profile transfers to the Saudi Pro League. In recent years, the league has signed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Gareth Bale.
The league is hoping to become a major force in world football, and the signings of these players are a step in that direction.