RIYADH — French star Karim Benzema has completed his move to Al Hilal and is preparing to start a new chapter in his career after ending a successful spell at Al Ittihad.
Benzema’s departure from Ittihad marks the end of a trophy-filled era at Jeddah, where he played a central role in winning the Saudi Professional League and King’s Cup.
He will now join league leaders Al Hilal and open a new chapter at the pinnacle of Saudi football.
The move continues the 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. At the time, his decision to join the Saudi Pro League was widely seen as a major boost for the competition, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s earlier move to Al Nasr.
Benzema arrived at Ittihad as a world star and quickly established himself as a key player, contributing decisively to major domestic trophies, including the league title in 2025.
Despite a generally stable relationship, tensions surfaced in January as the striker entered the final months of his contract.
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Negotiations for an extension stalled as the proposed terms did not meet the player’s expectations, and he was forced to leave the team for a short period of time, including missing the 2-2 draw against Al Fateh.
With negotiations stalled, Al Hilal moved quickly to take advantage of the situation and began direct negotiations with the player, reaching a final agreement on a contract until June 2027.
The deal ensured that Benzema remained in Saudi Arabia, making it impossible for him to return to European football, as he had expressed his desire from the start.
For Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi, Benzema’s addition will add further depth to an already formidable attacking line-up that includes Darwin Nunez and Marcos Leonardo.
The deal underlines Al Hilal’s active transfer strategy as they aim to strengthen both domestically and on the continent, while Benzema’s move will further intensify the technical and media attention on the Saudi Professional League in one of the most competitive and high-profile transfer windows in recent seasons.
