Neymar Funds Signings to Lift Santos's Transfer Ban
Neymar personally paid €2m to clear Santos's debt to Monaco, ending a FIFA ban and allowing the club to sign Arthur, Coutinho and Everton Cebolinha.
Neymar has paid off Santos's debt to Monaco out of his own pocket, clearing a FIFA transfer ban that had barred the club from registering new signings. According to L'Equipe, the payment of €2m went through NR Sports, the marketing company run by the Forward's family, and covered money owed since the 2023 move of Jean Lucas to Monaco.
With the ban lifted, Santos moved straight to bring in two players Neymar knows well from his Barcelona days: Arthur, whose deal runs to December 2026, and Philippe Coutinho, who left Vasco da Gama in February and opted to carry on his career for the chance to play alongside Neymar again. Left winger Everton Cebolinha has also signed.
Neymar, 34, returned to the club that produced him last season and has managed eight goals despite a string of injuries. Santos want the reinforcements in place for a Copa Sudamericana run; they beat Atlético Mineiro 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final.
If Neymar stays fit and the new arrivals settle quickly, Santos will fancy their chances of reaching the final and reclaiming some of the standing the club held in South American football before its recent decline.
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