Neymar completes his £78 million move to Al-Hilal as the Saudi football revolution continues… with the Brazilian star set to earn a whopping £260 million as he becomes the last big name to leave PSG this summer
Neymar has been photographed for the first time in an Al-Hilal kit as he seals his £78 million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazilian spoke to the Saudi club’s fans in a video posted on their social media pages in which he was heard saying, “I’m here in Saudi Arabia.”
Neymar has left PSG after agreeing a two-year deal with the PIF-backed club.
He becomes the latest superstar to make the move to the Kingdom, following Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane to the world’s biggest up-and-coming football division.
He rejected the possibility of a move to his former club Barcelona, which would have included an option to buy him outright next year.
Neymar has been revealed as an Al-Hilal player after sealing his £78 million transfer from PSG
“I’m here in Saudi Arabia, I’m HILALI,” Neymar says in the video, which begins with a blue lightning bolt, the colors of Al-Hilal, hurtling through the streets, confusing passersby. The video on the club’s Arabic Twitter account had been viewed 32 million times in 39 minutes.
Neymar was under contract with the French champions until 2027, but has decided to try new things at the age of 31.
“It is inevitably difficult to say goodbye to a legend of the club, who will be Neymar forever,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
“I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, nor what he brought to our club and our project over the past six years.
“We have had extraordinary moments and Neymar will always be part of our history.
“I want to thank him and his family. We wish Neymar all the best for the future and his next adventure.’
Al-Hilal also made a world record bid of £259 million for PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé, who turned down the move despite his poor relations with the French club.
The Saudi side has spent heavily this summer on players such as Ruben Neves from Wolves, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio and Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg.
Al-Hilal was defeated 2-1 in the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup on Saturday by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr after finishing third in the league last season.
Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 on a world record £198 million contract, was omitted from Luis Enrique’s roster for the Ligue 1 opener against Lorient on Saturday, which ended goalless.
He scored 18 goals for his club last season before undergoing surgery on his right ankle in March, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
In total, Neymar scored 118 times in 173 appearances for PSG.
He has won five Ligue 1 titles and three Coupe de France trophies, but has added nothing to the Champions League he won in Spain.
Neymar became the most expensive transfer ever when he joined the Ligue 1 giants in 2017
Al-Hilal failed to lure PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (right) as Neymar made the move
The superstar becomes the latest high-profile player to make the move to the kingdom
Saudi Arabia’s youthful population has a social media appetite that sets them apart from most others — and so it came as no surprise that Al-Hilal made a big fuss on Twitter on Tuesday.
An industry expert who lives here explained to Mail Sport this week when asked about preparations to welcome Neymar to the Kingdom: “They are working against the clock but they will leave no stone unturned.
‘There is already a lot of talent here, but they also fly in like the best if they have to and if they get it done in time.
“The people in charge, whether it be the Public Investment Fund or Al Hilal, are getting everything they need.
His revelation will be just the beginning. They are already rushing to print shirts with Neymar’s name on the back.
Neymar is set to earn £130 million a year and may even be unveiled in front of a full stadium
There will be a rush to print Neymar shirts, with the aim of making the competition sustainable
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