Neymar Junior will leave Saudi club Al-Hilal and has chosen to return to his first professional club in Brazil; Santos.

Santos' president told Brazilian superstar Neymar it was "time to return to (his) people" in a video published on social media on Tuesday.

Neymar struggled through physical injuries for most of his time in the Middle East, with a previous ACL rupture that kept him sidelined for a year.

Brazilian star Neymar on Monday ended his injury-plagued 18 month stay in Saudi Arabia as his club, Al-Hilal said they had "agreed to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent".

Neymar will take a significant wage cut to join boyhood club Santos, according to reports. The 32-year-old's reported £1.6 million per-week contract at Al Hilal has been terminated by mutual consent amid reports of a return to Brazil.

Neymar is set to forfeit an eyewatering amount of money after terminating his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. The Brazillian joined Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in August 2023 but managed just seven appearances in all competitions during his time with the club.

Neymar signed with Al Hilal in August 2023 for a reported fee of £78 million, transferring from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). His contract included an annual salary of £87.5 million and extravagant perks, such as a private jet, a luxury house with staff, and a £70,000 bonus for every Al Hilal victory.

Neymar has agreed to terminate his mega-money contract with Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal, having been restricted to just seven games in 18 months following an ACL injury

Neymar has made a stunning request to Santos asking them to sign his former teammate and the player has already given his answer. Neymar is set to re-join Santos, having had his Al Hilal contract terminated by mutual consent. The Saudi Pro League side issued an incredibly short statement in the wake of the Brazilian's departure.

Neymar has already named the four Premier League clubs he would ‘sign’ for as a move back to Santos nears. Neymar, 32, looks set to return to his boyhood club in the coming days after his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal was cancelled by mutual consent.