Neymar's Al-Hilal contract terminated

Neymar's time in Saudi Arabia is officially over, seemingly paving the way for his much-anticipated return to Brazil.

The 32-year-old's Al-Hilal contract was terminated by mutual consent Monday. The next and potential final step of Neymar's career is expected to be Santos, where his rise to superstardom began as a teenager.

Neymar will undergo a medical before rubber-stamping his homecoming with the Brazilian giants, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported. The attacker is set to sign a six-month contract with the option of an extra year, sources told ESPN.

Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus said earlier in January that Neymar can "no longer play at the level we are used to," fueling rumors of a departure. He wasn't registered to play in the second half of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) season as a result.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar endured a lackluster spell in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hilal paid a reported €90 million to sign the forward from PSG in the summer of 2023, giving him a contract worth an estimated €101 million annually. But Neymar tore his ACL while on international duty with Brazil not long after making that switch, missing a full calendar year as a result and struggling to regain full fitness after recovering from the serious knee injury.

He made just seven appearances in all competitions for Al-Hilal, scoring one goal.

"The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career," Al-Hilal said in a statement.

It's unknown what the resolution was between Neymar and Al-Hilal while the player was apparently due $65 million for the remainder of his contract, ESPN reported.

Neymar, the top scorer in the history of Brazil's men's national team, was linked with a move to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer this month, while the idea of a reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami was floated. But playing for Santos again seemed to be his preference all along.

At 19, Neymar scored in the second leg as Santos beat Penarol to win the Copa Libertadores final in 2011. Thirteen-and-a-half years later, he's reportedly joining a team that's back in Brazil's top tier after quickly recovering from the first relegation in its history.