After leaving Marseille for good, Hilton signed a one-year contract with Montpellier despite interests from Ligue 1's rival Evian. Hilton revealed that he's expected to return to his homeland after becoming unsettled in France before joining Montpellier. Hilton made his debut, on 14 August 2011, in a 1–0 win against defending champion Lille. After making seven appearance so far, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Bordeaux. At Montpellier, Hilton helped the club win their first league title after winning 2–1 against already relegated side Auxerre. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Hilton was named Trophées UNFP du football's Team of the Year of 2012. During the season, Hilton's contract with Montpellier was extended after the club activated its options to keep him for another year.