FC Cincinnati has opened preliminary discussions with Neymar’s camp about a possible move to MLS, according to sources familiar with the talks. The conversations are in the very early stages, but the club is already gauging the Brazil star’s interest and what it would take to bring him to Cincinnati.
The move would be one of the most ambitious in the club’s history. FC Cincinnati believes it can sell Neymar on its financial strength and its new facilities, and the organization is also talking internally about whether pushing for the 34-year-old forward makes sense. The club has long viewed itself as a destination for global names and U.S. national team players alike, and it has previously explored potential deals for Weston McKennie and Josh Sargent.
Neymar is under contract with Santos through the end of 2026, which means any deal would need to navigate both his current club situation and the structure of FC Cincinnati’s roster. The Fire previously held serious negotiations with Neymar when he left Al Hilal in 2025, but he instead chose a short-term return to Santos before later extending for another season.
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The timing is striking. MLS clubs have sharpened their focus on landing marquee international players after the commercial lift generated by Lionel Messi, and league ambitions remain tied to growing that audience before the current Apple deal expires at the end of the 2028-29 season. Neymar’s own form has kept him in the conversation: he helped steer Santos away from relegation at the end of 2025, finished that period with 11 goals and four assists across all competitions in just over 2,000 minutes, then opened 2026 with three goals and two assists in his first four league appearances.
There is still a major obstacle in Cincinnati. The club does not have an open designated player slot, with Kévin Denkey, Miles Robinson and Evander filling the three allotted spots for the rest of the year. Denkey arrived ahead of the 2025 season for a club-record $16.1 million fee, and all three players are on long-term contracts that cannot simply be bought down to create room.
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Neymar’s name has also stayed in the spotlight away from club negotiations. He was not selected by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil’s March friendlies, and he responded by saying he was upset and sad not to have been picked, though the focus remained the same day after day. He said the team would achieve its goal, that there was still one final squad announcement to go and the dream lived on, ending with the line: “That’s it, we’re in this together.” For FC Cincinnati, the question now is not whether Neymar remains a name that can move a market. It is whether the club can make a run at him that is more than talk.
For more on FC Cincinnati’s recent results, see Cincinnati Vs Toronto: Sallói strikes late as FC Cincinnati falls 1-0.
