The arrival of the former Ballon d’Or winner was confirmed by Al-Hilal through an official statement. The 38 year old has signed a contract for a period of one and a half years. According to several local sources, the decision follows his refusal to extend his stay with Al-Ittihad, despite a renewal offer from the club’s management. Benzema had not appeared on the team sheets for the last two league matchdays.
After a notable spell in Jeddah, Karim Benzema leaves Al-Ittihad with a solid list of achievements. Recruited in 2023 after fourteen seasons at Real Madrid, he played a decisive role in the club’s recent successes, particularly during the historic league and King’s Cup double achieved last season, a first for the Saudi side.
In a message published on the social network X, the French forward paid tribute to his time with Al-Ittihad: “This adventure enriched me greatly, both on a human and sporting level. I leave proud of the path we took and the successes we shared,” he said, adding that he is leaving the club “with his head held high.”
Still effective on the pitch, Benzema has scored 16 goals in 21 matches in all competitions this season. His move to Al-Hilal strengthens an already highly competitive squad engaged in an intense title race.
In the standings, Al-Hilal currently top the league with 47 points, just ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. Al-Ittihad, for their part, have dropped to sixth place with 34 points.
Editorial team/le7tv