RIYADH — French star Karim Benzema is preparing to begin a new chapter in his career after finalizing his move to Al Hilal, bringing his successful spell with Al Ittihad to a close.Benzema’s departure from Ittihad marks the end of a trophy-laden period in Jeddah, where he played a central role in winning the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup.He now joins league leaders Al Hilal, opening a fresh chapter at the top of Saudi football.The move continues a Saudi-based journey that began in the summer of 2023, when Benzema chose to leave Real Madrid after more than a decade of sustained success. His decision to join the Saudi Pro League at the time was widely seen as a major boost for the competition, following the earlier arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.Benzema arrived at Ittihad as a global star and quickly established himself as a key figure, contributing decisively to major domestic titles, including the 2025 league crown.Despite a generally stable relationship, tensions surfaced in January as the striker entered the final months of his contract.Talks over an extension stalled, with proposed terms failing to meet the player’s expectations, leading to a brief spell away from the squad, including his absence from a 2–2 draw against Al Fateh.With negotiations at a standstill, Al Hilal moved swiftly to capitalize on the situation, opening direct talks with the player and reaching a final agreement for a contract running until June 2027.The deal ensures Benzema remains in Saudi Arabia, ruling out a return to European football, a preference he had expressed from the outset.For Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi, Benzema’s arrival adds further depth to an already formidable attack that includes Darwin Núñez, and Marcos Leonardo.The signing underlines Al Hilal’s aggressive transfer strategy as they look to strengthen on both domestic and continental fronts, while Benzema’s switch is set to intensify the technical and media spotlight on the Saudi Pro League during one of its most competitive and closely watched transfer windows in recent seasons.
RIYADH — French star Karim Benzema is preparing to begin a new chapter in his career after finalizing his move to Al Hilal, bringing his successful spell with Al Ittihad to a close.Benzema’s departure from Ittihad marks the end of a trophy-laden period in Jeddah, where he played a central role in winning the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup.He now joins league leaders Al Hilal, opening a fresh chapter at the top of Saudi football.The move continues a Saudi-based journey that began in the summer of 2023, when Benzema chose to leave Real Madrid after more than a decade of sustained success. His decision to join the Saudi Pro League at the time was widely seen as a major boost for the competition, following the earlier arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.Benzema arrived at Ittihad as a global star and quickly established himself as a key figure, contributing decisively to major domestic titles, including the 2025 league crown.Despite a generally stable relationship, tensions surfaced in January as the striker entered the final months of his contract.Talks over an extension stalled, with proposed terms failing to meet the player’s expectations, leading to a brief spell away from the squad, including his absence from a 2–2 draw against Al Fateh.With negotiations at a standstill, Al Hilal moved swiftly to capitalize on the situation, opening direct talks with the player and reaching a final agreement for a contract running until June 2027.The deal ensures Benzema remains in Saudi Arabia, ruling out a return to European football, a preference he had expressed from the outset.For Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi, Benzema’s arrival adds further depth to an already formidable attack that includes Darwin Núñez, and Marcos Leonardo.The signing underlines Al Hilal’s aggressive transfer strategy as they look to strengthen on both domestic and continental fronts, while Benzema’s switch is set to intensify the technical and media spotlight on the Saudi Pro League during one of its most competitive and closely watched transfer windows in recent seasons.
