Karim Benzema wasted no time making an impact after joining Al-Hilal, announcing his arrival with a stunning hat-trick against Al-Akhdoud in his opening appearance in the Saudi Roshan League.
The French forward completed a swift and unexpected move to Al-Hilal following a productive spell with Al-Ittihad Jeddah. Between July 2023 and January 2026, Benzema featured in 86 matches for the Jeddah-based side, scoring 41 goals and providing 17 assists before sealing his switch during the winter transfer window.
Fresh details surrounding the deal were revealed on the programme “Our League is Different,” where Saudi journalist Khaled Al-Shunaif clarified that Benzema’s wages for the next two seasons will be fully covered by Al-Hilal’s own budget. He stressed that no external bodies, including the recruitment fund or the Saudi League Association, are contributing to the payment, dismissing speculation about outside financial backing.
On the pitch, Al-Hilal continue to set the pace in the league standings, sitting top with 53 points from 21 matches, while Al-Ittihad occupy sixth place with 37 points.
Sources further indicated that Benzema’s earnings at Al-Hilal are lower than what he previously received at Al-Ittihad. His total financial package over the next two years is expected to be under 50 million euros per season, even after Al-Hilal settled the remaining six months of his Al-Ittihad contract, reportedly worth around 30 million euros.
