Brazilian star Neymar is reportedly nearing a return to his former club Santos, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Although Neymar is still part of Saudi club Al Hilal’s roster, the team’s manager, Jorge Jesus, stated earlier in January that the Brazilian forward “can no longer play at the level we are used to.” Furthermore, Neymar was not registered to play in the Saudi Pro League, making him eligible only for the AFC Champions League.

Santos, MLS, and what we know so far

Neymar has been searching for his next football challenge and appears to have found it with the club where he began his professional career. According to sources consulted by ESPN, Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal is likely to be terminated. However, the final details are still being negotiated, and both parties are expected to meet early this week to reach an agreement.

If the termination is finalized, Neymar would sign a six-month contract with Santos, with an option to extend it for an additional year.

Should the deal go through, Neymar is expected to travel to Brazil this week and could make his Santos debut as early as February 5.

Walking away from millions to return home

Terminating his contract with Al Hilal, which runs until the summer, would mean Neymar forfeits approximately $65 million. However, ESPN sources indicate that Neymar could recover part of that money by joining, along with his father Neymar Santos Sr., an investment fund that includes shares in Santos.

Nonetheless, ESPN Brazil reports that Neymar is still looking to recover the money owed by Al Hilal, and any agreement involving shares in Santos would be difficult to execute in the short term.

The desire to regain his form

While rumors suggested a possible move to MLS side Chicago Fire FC, Neymar preferred to return to Brazil to regain his form and aim for a place on the national team.

The 32-year-old endured a challenging spell at Al Hilal after joining the Saudi club from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a fee of $97.6 million. His time in Saudi Arabia was plagued by injuries, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during international duty and a hamstring injury that limited him to just seven appearances. Neymar scored only once in an AFC Champions League match.

Despite the setbacks, Neymar remains one of football’s biggest stars. His golden years alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez at Barcelona (2013-2017) saw him win the UEFA Champions League, two LaLiga titles, and three Copa del Rey trophies. Later, at PSG, he secured five Ligue 1 titles and several domestic cups.

Neymar began his professional career with Santos in 2009, leading them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011. Internationally, he has represented Brazil 128 times, scoring a record 79 goals for the Seleção. He was also part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.