Having sealed a massive transfer deal, Neymar’s transition to Al Hilal was solidified. On August 19th (local time), the Brazilian forward officially made his debut for the team on the King Fahd Stadium. Here, the former PSG star was greeted with rituals fit for a king.
The Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium was filled to capacity as Neymar, alongside Malcom and Yassine Bounou, made their appearances for Al Hilal. Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, the grandson of the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, even arranged for a Boeing 747 to transport Neymar from Paris to Riyadh. The Brazilian player received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Riyadh.
Neymar’s journey took him to Al Hilal’s home ground, King Fahd Stadium, where he was introduced to the fans. The unveiling ceremony for Neymar, Malcom, and Bounou took place just before the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Fayha. Neymar, the latest acquisition, stepped onto the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium amidst the resounding cheers of thousands of devoted fans.
Prior to this, Neymar had signed a contract with Al Hilal extending until June 2025. Including salary and commercial clauses, he stands to earn approximately $200 million annually from the Saudi Arabian club. This figure is on par with the earnings of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr and Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad.
“I’m here to make history at the biggest club in Saudi Arabia and to achieve many victories,” Neymar shared. “I’m excited for this new challenge.”
Acquiring Neymar required Al Hilal to pay a transfer fee of $98.3 million to PSG. Neymar now holds the distinction of being the most expensive player ever purchased by a Saudi Arabian club.
Al Hilal fans proudly waved flags bearing Neymar’s image. The former Barcelona and PSG star embodies their aspirations for a triumphant resurgence.
Prior to Neymar’s arrival, Al Hilal had also secured the services of central defender Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielders Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, forward Malcom, and goalkeeper Bounou. In the previous season, Al Hilal finished third in the Saudi Pro League behind Al Ittihad and Al Nassr.
Goalkeeper Bounou, who was signed for $23 million from Sevilla, also made his debut on August 19th. The 32-year-old Moroccan goalkeeper had previously won two Europa League titles with Sevilla and reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup with the national team.
Malcom, too, was introduced to the audience before the match against Al Fayha. Neymar and Bounou did not play in this match due to their recent arrivals. Despite Salaka opening the scoring for Al Fayha in the 15th minute, Al Hamdan managed to equalize for Al Hilal just five minutes before halftime. As of now, Neymar’s team ranks fifth after two rounds of the Saudi Pro League, with four points. Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, and Al Ettifaq lead the table, each with six points.
Having joined Al Hilal from Zenit for a fee of $66.5 million in late July, Malcom has already made his mark, scoring five goals in four matches for the new team, including a hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League opener against Abha, which ended in a 3-1 victory.
