Is Neymar leaving PSG? Latest transfer rumours and possible next clubs for Brazil star

Jeorge Bird

Is Neymar leaving PSG? Latest transfer rumours and possible next clubs for Brazil star image

Neymar has been at Paris Saint-Germain since 2017 but there have been suggestions the Brazil star could be on his way out of the French capital.

Reports indicate that PSG could be willing to sanction the sale of Neymar if a suitable offer is made.

Here's an assessment of Neymar's situation and where he could end up.

Is Neymar leaving PSG?

According to Foot Mercato, PSG's recently-appointed Football Advisor Luis Campos believes that Neymar is replaceable if the price is right.

It has been reported that Campos, along with expected new coach Christophe Galtier, is planning for a 3-5-2 formation for PSG, which could lead to Neymar's services no longer being required.

Despite Neymar's ability, he may not fit into the system that Galtier's new-look PSG are expected to play. PSG are set to focus mainly on young French talents, again indicating that Neymar may not have a future at the club. 

Latest transfer rumours and possible next clubs for Neymar

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refuted reports that Neymar has been offered to the Premier League club by PSG. “I am so sorry for Le Parisien, but it is not true,” Guardiola said on July 20.

“I am sorry for them because the information they have received is false. Neymar is an incredible player and by my information, he is a nice guy. Let him express himself at Paris.

"Manchester City bought 150 players every summer, and it is not true. I am sorry for Neymar, of course."

If Neymar does leave PSG then Juventus could be one of the more likely options. According to Sport, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is interested in signing Neymar to provide his team with an extra injection of quality. There have been claims about a loan move, although a permanent switch is not out of the question.

Chelsea have been tentatively linked with Neymar but such a move appears unlikely at this stage especially given his wages. Manchester United were credited with interest in the past but there is nothing at present to suggest they would try to sign him now.

Real Madrid were heavily linked with the player when he made it clear he was keen to return to Spain around the 2019/20 season, and their failure to sign Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland means they could be in the market for a superstar forward. However, there are few credible reports linking them with a bid for the former Barcelona star at the moment.

Neymar's PSG contract details

Neymar joined PSG in 2017 and signed a contract extension in May 2021, with his current deal set to run until the end of June 2025. PSG also have an option to extend that agreement by a further year.

The 30-year-old earns around €43 million (£36m/$45m) per year, according to a report by El Mundo reproduced by The Times. If PSG activate their option for a one-year extension then Neymar's wages will increase to around €50m per year (£43m/$53m).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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What does Mbappe's contract mean for Neymar?

In May, after speculation that he could leave for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe ended up signing a new contract with PSG. Mbappe's new deal included a reported signing bonus of €116m/£100m/$123m as well as wages of around €4.7m/£4m/£4.9m per month.

Given that Mbappe is now at PSG to stay, it could make Neymar's future at the club more uncertain as they could look for other players to support Mbappe in attack. Plus, removing him from the wage bill would lighten the load on the PSG balance sheet and reduce the risk of breaching financial fair play regulations.

What is Neymar's record at PSG?

During his time at PSG, Neymar has made 144 appearances, scoring 100 goals and providing 60 assists.

Those numbers have come despite a succession of injuries for the Brazil star. Indeed, in 2021/22, he made the most starts (22) in a single Ligue 1 season since his move to Paris.

What trophies has Neymar won at PSG?

Neymar has won the Ligue 1 title four times, having lifted the trophy in each of his seasons at the club barring 2020/21, when Lille were crowned champions.

In addition, he has won the Coupe de France on three occasions, the Coupe de la Ligue twice and the Trophee des Champions three times.

What has Neymar done in the Champions League?

Despite all of the aforementioned silverware, Champions League glory has continued to elude Neymar at PSG.

His personal record in the Champions League at PSG is quite impressive, with 20 goals and 14 assists in 35 games.

However, PSG are determined to win the Champions League and so far they have been unable to achieve that objective despite having Neymar and an array of other stars at their disposal.

In Neymar's first season at the club, the 2017-18 campaign, PSG went out to Real Madrid in the round of 16. The following year, they fell at the same hurdle, this time losing to Manchester United on away goals in dramatic circumstances. Neymar watched from the sidelines as Marcus Rashford struck a late penalty at Parc des Princes to send United through.

Chris Smalling Marcus Rashford Tahith Chong Manchester United

In the 2019-20 season, PSG got all the way to the final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich. Then, last season, they reverted to type with another last-16 exit against Madrid.

How much did Neymar cost PSG?

The move to take Neymar from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 remains the most expensive transfer in football.

PSG activated Neymar's release clause of €222m/£198m/$241m to smash the previous world record set when Manchester United signed Paul Pogba from Juventus for an initial fee of €105m/£89m/$110m in 2016.

MORE: The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time

It was a deal that shattered the parameters of the transfer market. Of the 12 most expensive signings in history, only two took place prior to Neymar's move to Paris.

Jeorge Bird