Brazil forward Neymar Jr has signed for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the clubs announced, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Neymar, 31, scored 118 goals in 173 matches for PSG in six injury-plagued seasons. He won five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups, but was on the losing side as PSG were beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final.
Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($242 million), a few weeks before they recruited Kylian Mbappe. The Brazilian scored 118 goals in 173 matches for PSG, winning five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups, but his time at PSG was blighted by a catalogue of injuries. Although he helped the club to the 2020 Champions League final, which they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich, he was sidelined for key games. Last month Al-Hilal made a 300-million-euro bid for Mbappe, though the striker reportedly refused to meet with officials from the team.
About the Al Hilal
- Al Hilal was founded on October 16, 1957, by a group of young men who wanted to create a football club that would represent the city of Riyadh. The club’s first president was Mohammed Al-Helwa, and the first captain was Mohammed Al-Amri.
- Al Hilal quickly became one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, winning their first league title in 1964. They have since won the league a record 18 times, as well as the King Cup a record 10 times, the Crown Prince Cup a record 13 times, and the AFC Champions League four times.
- Al Hilal have also been successful in international competitions, reaching the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2019. They are the only Saudi Arabian club to have reached the final of the competition.
- Al Hilal’s home ground is the King Fahd International Stadium, which is located in Riyadh. The stadium has a capacity of 70,000 spectators.
- Al Hilal’s current manager is Ramón Díaz, a former Argentine international player. The club’s current captain is Mohammed Al-Buraik.
- Al Hilal are one of the most popular clubs in Saudi Arabia, and they have a large fan base around the world. They are considered to be one of the best clubs in Asia, and they are always contenders for major trophies.