Neymar has cost PSG almost €500 million – revealed

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Matthew T

Spanish newspaper El Mundo has reported over the weekend that the record-breaking move of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, has actually cost the French giants almost €500 million.

The move on 3rd August 2017 was, and still stands as, the most expensive transfer fee in the history of football. In order to sign Neymar, PSG paid the release clause in the Brazilian superstar’s Barcelona contract, which stood at €222 million.

However, El Mundo have reportedly received exclusive access to the exact details of the transfer and the contract signed at the time. They are reporting that the entire transfer has actually cost the Parisians €489,228,117.

The contract signed at the time was a five-year deal, which in gross terms was €43,334,400 per season. According to the report, a clause was also inserted for a sixth season by automatic renewal at the end of the contract term. Although, this could only be activated by the player himself. Were he to stay, which he has so far, Neymar would also receive an additional bonus of €50,556,117 for the sixth year.

In May 2020, Neymar ended speculation over a return to Barcelona by signing a contract extension with PSG until 2025. This deal reportedly contains similar financial terms to that of his last year in his previous contract.

Has the Neymar transfer been a success?

In short, not exactly. The silky forward has been on the sidelines for large parts of his stay in Paris so far. A number of ankle injuries in particular have seen him miss crucial ends to the season. In his absence, his side have exited the Champions League without him on more than one occasion. In fact, in the 145 league games his club have played since arriving, Neymar has only played in 71.

In addition to the injuries, one of the main reasons for his record-breaking move, was so he could end the French giants’ wait for a Champions League trophy. After comfortably winning the Ligue 1 title on seven out of 10 occasions since the Qatari takeover in 2011, along with a number of cup triumphs, the club’s hierarchy have craved the biggest prize of them all. Previously, the club has only won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001. But Europe’s biggest prize has still eluded PSG so far, despite the big-money signings in recent years. 2019-20 did see PSG reach the Champions League final, where they fell 1-0 to Bayern Munich.

Therefore, despite the Brazilian’s 87 goals in 117 appearances for PSG so far, it will be viewed as a disappointment. This is the case when you base it on the cost of the transfer, and its purpose. But Neymar has played a pivotal part in encouraging his long-standing friend Lionel Messi to join earlier this summer. Now the pressure is as high as ever on the club to deliver European trophies, and build a worldwide reputation.