Exclusive: Ruben Neves Targeting Premier League Return as Al-Hilal Contract Nears End

Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is gunning for a move back to the Premier League next summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Portuguese international left Wolves for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal two seasons ago in a high-profile £47million transfer.

But the 28-year-old’s current deal expires in June next year and our sources have learnt the 61-cap international would welcome a return to the English top-flight.

Neves scored an emotional late winner for his country as they edged Northern Ireland 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Lisbon at the weekend.

He dedicated his first international goal to his late Portugal team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life in a car accident earlier this year.

SportsBoom understand Neves has enjoyed his time playing in the Saudi Pro League, having been a mainstay of the Al-Hilal side the past two seasons.

But after this season, which will be his third and final at the club, Neves craves the chance to play in the Premier League again.

ATTRACTING INTEREST

And it’s likely there will be no shortage of takes, especially given was one of Wolves’ star performers in his six seasons with the Midlands club.

Neves helped Wolves win promotion to the Premier League in the 2017-2018 season and the was a key player for the next five years as Wolves punched above their weight in the division.

He chipped in with 21 league goals during his time at Molineux and played a total of 253 games for the club, 177 of them in them in the Premier League.

So far Neves has played 103 games for Al-Hilal and scored 11 goals in his time in Saudi Arabia, with the defensive-minded midfielder have played 62 times in the league for the club.

Neves won the Saudi Pro League in his first season with Al-Hilal as well as the King’s Cup, with the club having also twice won the Saudi Super Cup in what has proved to be real purple patch for the player.