Paris St-Germain (PSG) has reached an agreement to sell Brazilian forward Neymar to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for 90 million euros (£77.6m), along with potential add-ons.
The completion of the transfer depends on the 31-year-old undergoing a medical examination and completing all paperwork.
Neymar, who initially joined PSG for a world record fee of £222 million from FC Barcelona in 2017, was absent during the Ligue 1 opener over the weekend.
His exclusion from coach Luis Enrique’s plans for the upcoming season is evident.
The move also aligns with PSG’s alledgedly strategic shift away from the ‘Galacticos’ phase, characterized by acquiring high-profile players for substantial fees and significant wages.
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Reportedly earning around £21.6 million annually at the French club, Neymar’s departure shows PSG’s evolving approach to team composition.
This news arrives just 24 hours after PSG’s Kylian Mbappe returned to first-team training following constructive discussions with the club.
The 24-year-old French forward had been locked in a contract dispute due to his desire to join Real Madrid.
However, there’s now a possibility of extending his contract at PSG, as his current agreement is set to expire next summer.
In the preceding month, PSG granted Al-Hilal permission to engage in discussions with Mbappe following a world-record bid of £259 million from the Saudi side.
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Should the transfer materialize, it would contribute to the ongoing summer spending spree by Saudi clubs, reflecting their aspirations to elevate the league’s stature on a global scale in the coming years.
Notable players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, Ruben Neves, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino have all made moves to Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, notably joined Al-Nassr from Manchester United in January, further solidifying the momentum behind the Saudi league’s ambitious growth.