PARIS, France — Paris St-Germain, PSG, has agreed to terms for the sale of Brazilian star Neymar to Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League.
The deal, pegged at approximately 90 million euros (£77.6 million) plus additional bonuses, hinges on the 31-year-old superstar successfully undergoing a medical examination and the completion of requisite paperwork.
Neymar, who migrated to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a record-breaking fee of 222 million euros, was notably absent from PSG’s Ligue 1 season opener on Saturday, August 12, 2023.
This move highlights the changing strategy of the Parisian club as they distance themselves from the ‘Galacticos’ approach, which once saw them acquire renowned talents at astronomical costs.
Under coach Luis Enrique, Neymar has seemingly become surplus to requirements for the upcoming season.
With Neymar pocketing an annual salary in the ballpark of 25 million euros (£21.6 million) during his tenure with PSG, this deal underscores the club’s pivot towards a more financially sustainable model.
The Neymar revelation follows on the heels of another significant piece of PSG news.
Just a day prior, French sensation Kylian Mbappe resumed first-team training after a positive round of discussions with the club’s management.
Mbappe, 24, had previously been at loggerheads with PSG over his contract, which is set to expire next summer.
There were strong indicators of his inclination to shift base to Real Madrid, but these recent developments hint at a potential contract extension with the French giants.
Interestingly, just last month, Al-Hilal, buoyed by their audacious bid for Neymar, had approached PSG with a staggering world-record offer of £259 million for Mbappe.
However, with Mbappe’s recent reintegration into the PSG fold, it remains to be seen how this intricate web of transfers will unfold as the transfer window progresses.
This saga, comprising blockbuster deals and marquee players, is yet another testament to the dynamism and unpredictability of the football transfer market.
