Neymar Cincinnati Deal Fails
Neymar Ends FC Cincinnati MLS Transfer Talks After Club Fails to Make Formal Offer
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Key Points
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FC Cincinnati executives Chris Albright and Jeff Berding traveled to Brazil in April to meet Neymar and his father, but the club never submitted an official contract offer, leaving negotiations effectively stalled.
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Neymar’s Santos contract runs through the end of 2026, and after about two months of talks, no formal offer was made; he remains open to MLS only if terms are right and could consider options beyond Cincinnati once his contract expires.
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Neymar returned to Brazil action after a 981-day layoff, coming on as a substitute in Brazil's 3-0 win over Scotland, underscoring his continued high-level form even as MLS transfer negotiations stalled.
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Reports indicate Neymar reportedly took a 99% pay cut to rejoin Santos last year, signaling willingness to accept significantly reduced terms if it enables a move, a factor that contrasts with Cincinnati’s negotiation approach.
Neymar has ended talks with FC Cincinnati over a move to Major League Soccer, walking away after the club never submitted a formal contract offer, according to The Athletic. The negotiations, which began in April 2026, lasted roughly two months before collapsing — leaving one of soccer's biggest stars without a club destination ahead of the expiration of his Santos contract at the end of 2026.
The timing is striking. Just one day before the talks were declared dead, Neymar made an emotional return to Brazil's national team — entering as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Scotland on June 24, his first international appearance in 981 days, World Soccer Talk reported.
Cincinnati Flew to Brazil But Never Made an Offer
In April 2026, FC Cincinnati Sporting Director Chris Albright and President Jeff Berding traveled to Brazil to meet Neymar and his father, Neymar Sr. The club pitched "the Cincinnati project" and discussed image rights packages. But they left without placing a formal, written offer on the table, The Sun reported.
That lack of a concrete document proved fatal to the deal. Sources close to Neymar described the Cincinnati talks as "purely diplomatic" rather than substantive. Neymar Sr., who managed the financial discussions, was reportedly the first to grow frustrated by the absence of any official paperwork, according to Gooner Daily.
A 99% Pay Cut Star Finds Cincinnati's Silence Insulting
Neymar's recent history shows he is willing to take enormous financial hits for the right move. He reportedly accepted a 99% pay cut — dropping from roughly £1.6 million per week at Al-Hilal to a base of around £135,000 per month — to rejoin Santos in January 2025, The Sun noted. That sacrifice made Cincinnati's failure to even produce a written offer all the more jarring.
Sports analysts point to what they call a "decisiveness gap." Superstars accustomed to the fast-moving transfer markets of Saudi Arabia and Europe expect formal offers quickly. Flying to Brazil without a contract in hand, critics argue, wasted Neymar's time during a critical World Cup preparation window, World Soccer Talk reported.
A Messi Reunion Dream That Never Got Off the Ground
Part of Cincinnati's pitch was the broader appeal of MLS as a league — and the romantic notion of Neymar reuniting with Lionel Messi in the United States. The two were teammates at Barcelona and later at Paris Saint-Germain, forming one of soccer's most celebrated partnerships. World Soccer Talk reported that Cincinnati was positioning itself as matching the ambition seen at Inter Miami, where Messi plays.
The club also faced a logistical hurdle. Cincinnati's Designated Player slots — the roster spots reserved for high-earning stars — were already occupied, including by Brazilian midfielder Evander. The club would have needed to clear that space before any Neymar deal could be finalized, adding another layer of complexity to an already stalled negotiation, according to Foot Africa.
Neymar's Future Stays Open as Santos Deal Runs Out
Neymar's Santos contract expires in December 2026, which means he will be a free agent just as the 2027 MLS season begins. He has signaled he remains open to MLS — but only "if terms are right," Gooner Daily reported. Inter Miami and the Chicago Fire have been mentioned as possible future suitors.
At 34, Neymar still has value on the pitch. He scored 12 goals and added 6 assists for Santos in 2025. His World Cup cameo against Scotland showed he can still perform at the highest level. His current market value sits at roughly €8 million, per Transfermarkt. The Cincinnati saga may be over, but his next chapter is still being written.
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