Brazil's all-time leading scorer Neymar is returning to his childhood club on a six-month loan, with plans to move back to Europe afterward: "My feelings for the club and fans have never changed"
Neymar back with his childhood club (Photo: Santos FC)
12 years have passed, and now Neymar has finally returned home. On Friday, Santos officially announced the signing of the Brazilian star, bringing him back to the childhood club where his journey began. The winger, who left Al Hilal, has signed a contract until the end of the season, at least in the initial phase. "The prince is back," the official statement read.
“It’s been nearly 12 years since I left the most famous Vila in the world – and it seems like it was yesterday. My feelings for the club and fans have never changed," Neymar wrote in his return statement yesterday. Playing football, doing what I love most in life, is what makes me happy. "To be born, live and die for Santos is an honour that few have and I am happy to say it again."
One of Neymar's goals is to regain peak form for the 2026 World Cup. According to reports, the Brazilian intends to stay at Santos for just six months before moving back to European football, aiming to be in top shape for the 2025/26 season and the major tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, made his debut for Santos in 2009 and played a pivotal role in the club's triumph in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, scoring in the final before Barcelona signed him for 88 million euros.
The Brazilian helped the Catalan club win two Spanish championships and their most recent Champions League title, contributing 105 goals and 76 assists in 186 appearances. In the summer of 2017, he became the most expensive player in history when Paris Saint-Germain paid 222 million euros to sign him.
He won five French championships with PSG, but his best achievement in the Champions League was reaching the 2020 final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Neymar has suffered several injuries in recent years, and during his time at Al Hilal, he made just seven appearances, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
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