Wed Jan 29 14:57:48 IST 2025: ## Neymar’s Saudi Arabian Stint Ends Abruptly; Superstar Returns to Santos
**RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA/SAO PAULO, BRAZIL –** Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar has ended his brief and injury-plagued tenure in the Saudi Pro League, returning to his boyhood club Santos. Al-Hilal, the Saudi Arabian club that signed Neymar to a reported $100 million annual contract in 2023, announced Monday that they had mutually terminated his contract.
Neymar, 32, struggled with persistent injuries throughout his 17-month stay in Saudi Arabia, most notably a previous ACL rupture that sidelined him for a significant period. Despite the lucrative deal, he managed only seven appearances and one goal for Al-Hilal.
The news of his departure was swiftly followed by an announcement from Santos president Marcelo Teixeira on social media confirming Neymar’s return to the Brazilian club where he began his professional career in 2009. Neymar himself expressed gratitude to Al-Hilal and its fans on social media, acknowledging a less successful time than hoped on the pitch. His return to Santos is expected to be met with great excitement by Brazilian football fans.
First Piper 