Santo Domingo.– French forward Karim Benzema is involved in one of the most relevant moves in world football this season by leaving Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and signing a contract with Al-Hilal, current leader of the Saudi Pro League, the club announced this Monday.
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The agreement with the Riyadh team is valid until June 2027, with a contract of a year and a half, after the end of Benzema’s link with Al Ittihad, where he did not reach an understanding to renew his contract. Benzema, 38 years old and winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or, arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2023 from Real Madrid and is leaving after two and a half seasons in Jeddah, where he played 83 matches, scored 54 goals and provided 17 assists. During his time with Ittihad he won the league title and the national cup in the 2024–25 season. In his new club, Benzema will join a squad with high-profile names, reinforcing Al-Hilal’s attack under the technical direction of Italian Simone Inzaghi and alongside figures such as Théo Hernandez, Kalidou Koulibaly, Darwin Núñez and Malcom. The signing is made official in the middle of the winter market of the Saudi league and represents a significant move in the fight for the domestic title, in which Al-Hilal seeks to remain at the top of the championship. The Frenchman, an icon of European football and former Real Madrid player, will continue his professional career in the elite of Arab football, adding another stage to an outstanding career both at club and international level.
