Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has joined Al Ittihad as a free agent on a three-year deal, the Saudi Arabian champions said on Tuesday, after the French striker’s departure from Real Madrid. According to media reports, the contract is estimated to be worth more than 100mn euros ($106.89mn).
“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country. I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe,” the 35-year-old Benzema said. “It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project ... I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels.”
Al Ittihad last month clinched the Saudi Pro League title for the first time since 2009. “Benzema’s arrival is the most impactful transfer in the club’s history to date,” Al Ittihad said in a statement. “It also marks another huge step in the Saudi Pro League’s journey to become one of football’s leading destinations for the world’s very best after its biggest season to date.”
At Real, Benzema won the Champions League five times, four La Liga crowns and three Spanish Cup trophies as well as five Club World Cups and four UEFA Super Cup titles. But after a stellar 2021-22 season, he was troubled by injuries in the just-completed season and had to miss France’s World Cup campaign with a thigh problem.
Benzema joins his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United following last year’s World Cup.
Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons, has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Senior officials from another Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal, have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old Argentinian played his last game for PSG at the weekend, two sources with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Sunday. The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible.
Saudi Arabia has drawn up a list of more than 10 players who have won either the Champions League or the World Cup that it wants to lure to its league, a source close to the negotiations has told AFP. The list includes Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and his France teammate N’Golo Kante.
Karim Benzema
