Neymar has confirmed he will be returning to his childhood club, Santos, 12 years after leaving to join Barcelona as one of Brazil’s most promising young talents. The Brazilian forward shared the news in a heartfelt video on Thursday, describing the move as a chance to “go back in time.” This decision comes shortly after Neymar and Al-Hilal mutually agreed to part ways, just 18 months after his high-profile transfer to the Saudi club for around €90 million ($98.5M).
Injuries, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament just two months after joining, kept Neymar to only seven appearances and one goal during his time at Al-Hilal.
In a video, Neymar shared his excitement about rejoining Santos, saying, “I’ll sign the contract with Santos Futebol Clube. I want to thank my fans worldwide, who have long hoped for this moment.” He reflected on the time since his departure from the club, saying, “It’s been nearly 12 years since I left the most famous Vila in the world – and it feels like it was just yesterday. My love for the club and its fans has never wavered.”
Neymar, who remains the world’s most expensive player due to his $263 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, achieved significant success during his time at Barcelona, including winning the Champions League and two La Liga titles while forming the legendary ‘MSN’ trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. At PSG, Neymar won five league titles, but was unable to help the team secure the elusive Champions League trophy.
Neymar, the all-time top scorer for Brazil’s national team, made his professional debut with Santos in 2009. He led the club to victory in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League, scoring in the final.
After gaining promotion from Serie B in 2024, Santos has returned to Brazil’s top division, Serie A.
Neymar is reportedly set to sign a short-term contract with Santos before aiming to make a return to Europe. In his video, he expressed, “Now, I need to play again. And only a club like Santos can offer the support and love I need to prepare for the challenges ahead in the coming years.”
