Neymar’s future has once again taken center stage this transfer window, as his return to Santos hasn’t gone quite as expected. With growing speculation linking him to clubs set to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the Brazilian star has reportedly made a final decision regarding his expiring contract with O Peixe.
Following an injury-plagued stint, Neymar left Al Hilal and returned to Santos in February on a six-month deal. But setbacks continued to haunt him, limiting the forward to just 12 appearances. With his contract set to expire on June 30, speculation swirled about a possible move.
According to R7 reporter Fabiano Farah, Neymar has decided to extend his stay, agreeing to a contract renewal with Santos through the end of 2026. Per the report, the new deal will be officially signed on June 27, after Neymar returns from his trip to the United States—tying him to the club beyond the 2026 World Cup.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Neymar will reportedly earn $750,000 per week, making him one of the highest-paid players in the Brazilian league. The deal was made possible after Santos reached an arrangement with Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Santos Sr., to pay the player’s image rights in installments through December 2026, using only collective rights during that time.
Neymar recently tested positive for COVID-19, which sidelined him from training with Santos since last Thursday. However, the Brazilian icon posted an Instagram story today confirming that he tested negative and has now been cleared to return to the training ground.
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While no official club statement has been released yet, Neymar’s father spoke publicly about his desire to finalize the extension. “We want him to stay. We’re doing everything possible to make it happen. We received offers from other clubs, but we turned them down because we want him to have more time to recover from his injuries. The next six months will be important,” he told reporters during a club event in the state of São Paulo.
Neymar joins list of stars skipping Club World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo recently confirmed that he will remain with Al Nassr and will not take part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, despite swirling rumors and even comments from FIFA president Gianni Infantino hinting at the possibility. Neymar now appears to be following suit.
Spanish outlet Marca reported that Mexican club Pachuca CF had offered Neymar a lucrative short-term deal to join them for the Club World Cup. However, with his renewal reportedly imminent and no transfer moves on the horizon, Neymar looks set to be another major star missing from the global tournament.
