Karim Benzema has completed a permanent transfer from Al-Ittihad to Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal, in a deal worth €25.00m. The France/Algeria centre-forward leaves Jeddah for Riyadh in a move that keeps him in Saudi Arabia rather than returning to his home country and sees him join the current dominant force in the league. His contract at Al-Hilal runs from 2026-02-02 to 2028-06-30.
The 38-year-old arrives at Al-Hilal with a current market value of €6.00m, underlining both his veteran status and continued relevance at the top level. The move also reinforces Al-Hilal’s policy of recruiting globally renowned forwards to spearhead their attack, while Al-Ittihad lose the marquee striker they had signed from Real Madrid only a few years earlier.
Benzema’s switch is a direct transfer within the Saudi Pro League, meaning he will continue to play his club football abroad, far from France or Algeria, the two nations that define his heritage. Instead of a late-career return to Ligue 1, he remains embedded in the Saudi project, where the league’s financial power has repeatedly reshaped the market for ageing but still high-profile stars.
The forward’s route to Al-Hilal traces a celebrated career arc. Developed in the Olympique Lyon youth system, Benzema progressed from Lyon’s youth ranks to the U17s, then the U19s, before breaking into the first team. His performances in Ligue 1 secured a major move to Real Madrid, where his market value peaked at around €60m during his late twenties, reflecting his status as one of Europe’s premier centre-forwards. After a lengthy spell in Spain’s La Liga, he departed for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, marking his first move outside European competition.
Over time, his market valuation declined from those peak figures to the current €6.00m at Al-Ittihad, in line with his advancing age but still indicating significant worth in a league eager for global names. At Al-Ittihad, Benzema continued to operate as an out-and-out centre-forward, offering penalty-box presence and experience, and his performances there have convinced Al-Hilal to invest a substantial fee despite his veteran status.
This latest transfer also preserves the possibility of future free agency. With a fixed contract end date at Al-Hilal and no further extension information in the record, Benzema could enter the market as a free agent once that deal expires, potentially opening the door to a final move or even a late return to Europe or North Africa.
For now, though, the confirmed move consolidates Benzema’s Saudi chapter. Remaining in the Saudi Pro League, he continues to build his legacy outside his homeland, adding another major club to a résumé that already includes Olympique Lyon, Real Madrid, and Al-Ittihad. How he performs for Al-Hilal over the duration of his contract will shape the final perception of his club career and determine whether this Riyadh spell becomes a triumphant final act or simply another stop in a storied journey.
