Karim Benzema Signs with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia
Karim Benzema has signed with Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad on an initial three-year deal, the club announced on Tuesday.
The French striker played his final game for Real Madrid on Sunday, having spent 14 years with the Spanish giant.
Al-Ittihad won the Saudi Pro League this season under the stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo.
Benzema's arrival is the most impactful transfer in the club's history to date, according to the Saudi Pro League.
The 35-year-old expressed joy at joining a league which already contains his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benzema is excited to experience a new football league in a different country, with Al-Ittihad having an amazing history and big ambitions in football.
He has been fortunate to achieve amazing things in his career, including winning the men's Ballon d'Or in 2022.
The club's president, Anmar Bin Abdullah Alhailael, said Benzema is a global football icon and a great signing for the club.
Benzema joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009, aged 21, and won 25 trophies with the club, making 648 appearances and scoring 354 goals.
He won five Champions League titles, tying for the most in history for an individual player, as of 2023.
The Saudi Pro League shared a statement on the signing, reading: “Benzema’s arrival 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.”
Benzema will wear Al-Ittihad's black and yellow striped shirt, as seen in Tuesday's press release.
The French forward said: “I am here to win, like I did in Europe.”
Al-Ittihad's fans are incredibly passionate, and the club has big ambitions in football to be a force in Asia after winning the league.
Benzema's deal is reportedly worth more than $100 million, as of June 2023.
The club’s official Twitter account posted a video of the French forward with the caption: “Benzema is here. A new tiger will roar. Welcome to Ittihad.”