Less than a week after requesting a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, Brazilian star Neymar is close to getting his wish.
Neymar is nearing an agreement with Saudi club Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League, according to the French publication L’Equipe. Al-Hilal will send a combined €160 million ($175 million) to PSG and Neymar over two seasons, though it’s unclear how that money will be split between club and player. The report comes after Neymar did not appear in PSG’s Ligue 1 opener on Saturday, which ended in a 0–0 draw against Lorient.
ESPN’s Julien Laurens added that Neymar will sign a two-year deal that will pay him €100 million ($110 million) per season and that PSG is reportedly seeking €80 million ($88 million) from Al-Hilal.
A potential return to Barcelona was on the table for Neymar, though that possibility fell through. Neymar spent five years with the club from 2013 to ’17 before joining PSG.
Neymar’s transfer comes after Al-Hilal also reportedly pursued PSG star Kylian Mbappé. The club reportedly submitted an offer worth over $1 billion, though the 24-year-old French star turned it down, per Andrew Cohen of Front Office Sports.