Neymar has completed his move from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.
PSG accepted an £80million ($102m) bid for the Brazil international who completed a medical on Monday ahead of the move.
He has signed a two-year contract with the Riyadh-based club.
“It is always difficult to say goodbye to an amazing player like Neymar, one of the best players in the world,” said Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, President and CEO of Paris Saint-Germain.
“I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, and what he has contributed to our club and our project over the last 6 years. We have had great moments and Neymar will always be a big part of our history. I would like to thank Neymar and his family. We wish him all the very best for the future and his next adventure.”
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Neymar, 31, had played throughout PSG’s pre-season but it became clear last week that he — as well as midfielder Marco Verratti — was not in the club’s plans for the upcoming season under new head coach Luis Enrique.
Al Hilal were one of four Saudi Arabian clubs taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund earlier this summer and had tabled a €300million (£259m; $332m) offer for Kylian Mbappe last month.
Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for €222m and has gone on to score 118 goals in 173 matches for the French club. His PSG career has been blighted by injuries, with the Brazilian yet to make more than 22 Ligue 1 appearances in any of his six seasons in Paris.
“I am here in Saudi Arabia, i am HILALI 💙”@neymarjr #AlHilal
pic.twitter.com/q7VUhf0FnQ— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 15, 2023
Having made his national team debut aged 17, Neymar is Brazil’s joint-all-time top scorer alongside Pele, with 77 goals in 124 games.
Mbappe’s future at PSG has been a sticking point all summer. The 24-year-old informed PSG he would not be extending his contract beyond June 2024, prompting the club to put him up for sale rather than risk losing him for free next summer.
PSG also excluded him from first-team training, only to reverse that decision on Sunday after “very constructive talks”.
GO DEEPER
Neymar and PSG: Was it all worth it?
(Photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
