Neymar announced this Thursday on his social media his return to Santos, the Brazilian club where he trained, twelve years after his departure.

With an emotional video featuring images of his journey, the forward confirmed he will sign a contract with Santos and will be present on Friday in Brazil, the same day a great reception is expected from the club at their Vila Belmiro stadium, according to local press.

"I want to thank the fans around the world who really wished for this moment. It’s been almost 12 years since I left the 'Vila' – the most famous in the world – and it feels like it was just yesterday. My feelings for the club and the fans never changed," Neymar said.

He also expressed his gratitude to Al-Hilal and Saudi Arabia, a "wonderful" country, for the great reception they gave him, and celebrated that the country has been chosen as the host for the 2034 World Cup.

Santos, which is returning to the Brazilian top division this year, commented on the video and wrote: "Your home is waiting for you, your people are waiting for you."

The forward, about to turn 33, returns to his home country after reaching an agreement with Al-Hilal, with which he played only seven games since arriving at the Saudi team in August 2023. On October 17, 2023, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in his left knee during a match between Brazil and Uruguay in Montevideo.

Neymar returned to play on October 21, 2024, in an Asian Champions League match. However, shortly after, he suffered a muscle injury that forced him to stop again.