Karim Benzema has left Al Ittihad and signed a contract with Saudi Pro League rivals Al Hilal, the club announced on Monday.
“Karim Benzema is officially Hilali,” Al Hilal posted on X.
After the deal was held up by the Saudi Ministry of Sports and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Monday, issues were resolved on deadline day and the 38-year-old will get his wish to change Saudi clubs.
Out of contract in six months with Al Ittihad, Benzema, 38, rejected a contract extension from Al Ittihad, considering it “disrespectful.”
The Al Ittihad deal from the Saudi Pro League, which handles the contracts of the main players in PIF-owned clubs, would effectively have seen Benzema play for free, sources said.