Karim Benzema leaves Al Ittihad for Al Hilal in Saudi league shock | OneFootball

Karim Benzema has left Al Ittihad for Al Hilal, signing for the rest of this season and one more. According to Superdeporte, the move is now official and takes him from Jeddah to Riyadh.

After months of stalled renewal talks with Al Ittihad, the French forward has opted for a change of scene while staying in the Saudi league. He joined the club in 2023 as the reigning Ballon d'Or winner.

With the Public Investment Fund overseeing the country’s four biggest clubs, it stepped in, mindful of losing a star of Benzema’s stature. European clubs explored a move, but Al Hilal moved fastest and sealed it hours before the window closed.

Talks were held up for much of the day, mainly due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s resistance to his long-time rival strengthening a direct competitor. Al Nassr, meanwhile, were constrained and had no room to reinforce.

Benzema’s arrival at Al Hilal was ultimately cleared and has sent shockwaves through the division. It is a statement signing that boosts Al Hilal in their title fight.

Benzema has won 34 trophies at club level, including five FIFA Club World Cups, five UEFA Champions Leagues and four LaLiga titles with Real Madrid, plus four Ligue 1 crowns with Lyon.

He has 97 caps for France, winning the UEFA Nations League and featuring at the World Cup. Individually, he has collected the Ballon d'Or and UEFA’s Best Player in Europe, and has topped scoring charts in several international competitions.

Source: Superdeporte