Karim Benzema has officially left Al Ittihad to sign with Saudi Pro League rivals Al Hilal, as announced by the club on Monday.
“Karim Benzema is officially a Hilali,” posted Al Hilal on X.
The transfer, initially delayed by the Saudi Ministry of Sports and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was finalized on deadline day, allowing the 38-year-old to secure a move to another Saudi club.
With his contract with Al Ittihad expiring in six months, Benzema rejected a proposed extension, deeming it “disrespectful.” Sources indicated that the deal would have effectively made Benzema play without compensation due to the nature of player contracts in the PIF-owned teams within the Saudi Pro League.
Instead, PIF arranged for Benzema to join rivals Al Hilal, a move that reportedly upset fellow player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo protested by refusing to play for Al Nassr on Monday, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of investment in his team compared to Al Ittihad.
Benzema, who also received offers from European clubs, preferred to remain in Saudi Arabia in part due to his image rights contract running until 2030.
Replacing him at Al Ittihad will be Youssef En-Nesyri, the forward from Morocco and Fenerbahçe, while former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté, 34, will also depart from Al Ittihad to join Fenerbahçe.
Ronaldo remains on the hunt for his first league title since arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2022, while Benzema’s arrival at Al Hilal, alongside other top-player signings, has bolstered their team significantly.
The former Real Madrid striker, who previously played alongside Ronaldo at the Spanish club, led Al Ittihad to the league title and the King’s Cup in the past season.
Al Hilal stands out as Saudi Arabia’s most successful club, boasting 21 league titles and four Asian Championships.
Last year, they shocked Manchester City by defeating them 4-3 in the Club World Cup, eliminating Pep Guardiola’s team.
With Simone Inzaghi, a two-time Champions League finalist, as their coach, Al Hilal poses a formidable challenge to Ronaldo’s aspirations for a league title amidst a wave of high-profile player migrations to the Saudi league.