Wolves have confirmed that captain Ruben Neves has joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for a club record £47 million.
The Portugal midfielder, who was 26 and had a year left on his contract, is leaving Molineux after six years.
Neves is the latest big-name player to leave a club in Europe and join the Pro League in Saudi Arabia.
Karim Benzema left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad earlier this month. He is now playing with his old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid for Al-Nassr in January.
N’Golo Kante, a midfielder, agreed earlier this week to leave Chelsea and join Benzema at Al-Ittihad. Kante and Benzema both play for France.
Edouard Mendy, the custodian for Chelsea, is also close to signing with Saudi Pro-League team Al Ahli. Bernardo Silva, the Portuguese midfielder for Manchester City, is on Al-Hilal’s list of players they want to sign.
Neves said at the end of last season that he was ambitious because Barcelona was interested. Since Barcelona couldn’t make a good offer, Neves chose Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hilal paid more than the £41 million that Wolves got for Diogo Jota when he moved to Liverpool in 2020.
It is also the most money a Saudi Pro League team has ever paid for a transfer. It is a lot more than the 18 million euros (£15.4 million) that Matheus Pereira reportedly moved from West Brom to Al-Hilal in 2021.
Neves helped Wolves get promoted from the Championship to the Premier League in 2017-18 and stay there. In an open letter to the club’s fans, he called his time at Molineux “an unbelievable journey.”
He added: “The way we worked together, the way we fought for the club, what we achieved and all the moments we spent together was unbelievable.
“There are no words to describe our dressing room, with a team spirit that I’ve never experienced before. And then to become captain for the final year made me so proud.
“My kids grew up in Wolverhampton and they were so happy here. Me and my lovely wife will never forget the time we had here as a family.”
Neves played for West Midlands club for 253 games and scored 30 goals after he moved there from Porto in 2017.
Matt Hobbs, who is in charge of sports for Wolves, said that Neves is one of Wolves’ best players ever.
“Ruben is the embodiment of everything you look for when trying to bring players into a football club; a leader, a humble man and an extremely talented footballer who took Wolves to a different level,” he said.
“He was part of a great era for this club and will go down as one of our best ever players. We are grateful for everything he has done for Wolves and wish him and his family the very best for the future.”
