Al-Walid ben Talal funds Al-Hilal’s Benzema deal and seven winter signings | OneFootball

Al-Walid ben Talal has stepped in to finance Al-Hilal’s winter business, reinforcing the Saudi Pro League leaders. The club said in posts that he covered the full fee for Karim Benzema and paid for seven winter signings for 2025-26.

The Riyadh giants, coached by Simone Inzaghi, should strengthen their grip at the top of the Saudi Pro League and across Asia. At the reworked Club World Cup in the United States last summer, they went unbeaten in the group, drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid. They then beat Manchester City 4-3 after extra time in the last 16 to reach the quarter-finals.

The Public Investment Fund remains the majority shareholder with 75%, and the remaining 25% is held by a non-profit in which Al-Walid ben Talal is heavily involved as the principal donor.

The billionaire prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder, studied in California. His name featured during rumours around the ‘Vente OM’ saga five years ago.

He was among around 350 VIPs held at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton in November 2017 during a purge presented as an anti-corruption drive by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Source: L'Équipe