Former Chelsea star set to be banished from Saudi club's squad to make room for Neymar

Neymar’s time in Saudi Arabia has been marred by injury, but his situation appears far more stable than that of his Al-Hilal teammate, Kalidou Koulibaly. Neymar’s re-registration to the Saudi Pro League squad comes at the expense of Koulibaly, highlighting the shifting dynamics within the club.

Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal from PSG in 2023 generated significant headlines, but his first season was cut short by a knee injury after just five games.

A return in October 2024 was followed by another injury setback in early November, sparking rumors of a potential contract termination in January. Despite these setbacks, Neymar’s re-registration suggests Al-Hilal still has faith in his abilities.

The decision to re-register Neymar at the expense of Koulibaly marks a significant turning point for both players. Koulibaly’s career trajectory has taken a downward turn since his move to Al-Hilal. After impressive performances at Napoli, leading to a £34 million transfer to Chelsea in 2022, a disappointing spell in London resulted in his move to Saudi Arabia the following summer.

He has failed to recapture his previous form. Al-Hilal is reportedly planning either to terminate Koulibaly’s contract or loan him out until the end of 2026.

Neymar’s opportunity to rebound

For Neymar, this represents a fresh opportunity to prove his worth to Al-Hilal. In over a year with the club, he’s played only seven games. A strong performance could secure a new contract and revitalize his career.

Despite Neymar’s injury woes, Al-Hilal has maintained its strong form, winning the Saudi Pro League title last season and currently competing for the title again this year. They trail Al-Ittihad, featuring Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté, by two points.

Aleksandar Mitrovic leads the team’s scoring with 19 goals across all competitions. Al-Hilal also competes in the Asian Champions League, the Kings Cup, and will participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.