By Daniel Edu
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has agreed to a €90 million bid from Al-Hilal for Brazilian winger Neymar, which includes additional incentives.
Neymar, who became a part of PSG in 2017 through a record-breaking transfer fee of 222 million euros, was notably absent at the commencement of the Ligue 1 season, leading to a goalless draw against Lorient.
The 31-year-old player is in the final stages of finalizing transfer paperwork and has scheduled a medical evaluation with the Saudi Pro League club. Despite this pending move, Neymar does not feature in the plans of head coach Luis Enrique for the upcoming campaign.
Neymar’s departure from PSG is reportedly in line with the club’s strategic shift to move away from having high-earning superstar players on their roster.
It has been reported that Neymar’s annual salary at the French Ligue 1 side is approximately €25 million, making him one of the highest-paid footballers in Europe.
Since his arrival at PSG in 2017, Neymar has participated in 173 matches across various competitions, contributing to the club’s attainment of 13 major titles, including five Ligue 1 championships. He was also a key figure when PSG reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2020, marking a historic achievement for the club, although they were defeated by Bayern Munich.
In March 2023, Neymar’s season at PSG was cut short due to surgery, and his return to training only occurred in July of that year.
Upon the completion of his transfer to Al-Hilal, Neymar is projected to earn an impressive €160 million per season, positioning him as the third highest-paid player globally, trailing behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr and Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad.
