Karim Benzema ends Al-Hilal contract and moves closer to retirement

Karim Benzema has ended his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and is expected to retire from football permanently, according to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

The former France international joined Al-Hilal from Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Ittihad in January, but his time at the club has lasted only 16 matches. He scored 10 goals and provided five assists during that spell, while also helping Al-Hilal win the King’s Cup.

Asharq Al-Awsat reports that Al-Hilal reached an agreement to terminate Benzema’s contract following intensive negotiations in recent days. The 37-year-old is now understood to be considering retirement after turning down a move to Al-Shabab.

Benzema’s contract with Al-Hilal is set to end, while his agreement with the Saudi Pro League is initially scheduled to run until 2030. That arrangement is expected to remain in place despite the player’s apparent decision to retire.

His departure from Al-Hilal brings to a close a brief second chapter in Saudi Arabian football. Benzema moved to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023 after ending his 14-year association with Real Madrid.

He signed for Al-Ittihad after leaving the Spanish club and played 83 matches for the Jeddah-based side, scoring 54 goals and supplying 17 assists. During his time with Al-Ittihad, Benzema helped the club win the Saudi Pro League title and the King’s Cup.

The move to Saudi Arabia followed one of the most successful careers in Real Madrid’s history. Benzema joined the club from French side Lyon in 2009 for a reported fee of 35m euros at the time.

He went on to make 648 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 354 goals and creating 158 more. Across 14 years at the Santiago Bernabeu, he won 25 trophies, making him the most decorated player in the club’s history.

Benzema also earned 97 caps for France between 2007 and 2022, scoring 37 goals for his country. His international career included a return to the France squad after a prolonged absence, although the source report does not provide further details of his time with the national team.

The striker’s possible retirement would mark the end of a career that included more than a decade at one of Europe’s leading clubs, domestic and European success with Real Madrid, and a final move to Saudi Arabia.

For now, his Al-Hilal contract has been terminated, while his continuing agreement with the Saudi Pro League is expected to remain active until 2030 unless further changes are made. His decision not to join Al-Shabab has increased expectations that he will end his playing career altogether.