Karim Benzema, the French striker who played for Real Madrid for 14 years, has completed a transfer to Al Ittihad, the current champions of Saudi Arabia. This move makes him the latest soccer star to join the league. Benzema will now have the opportunity to face his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr earlier this year.
Al Ittihad posted a video on Twitter showing Benzema signing a contract until 2026, although the financial details were not disclosed. Benzema achieved great success during his time at Real Madrid, winning several titles, including five Champions League trophies. He expressed his enthusiasm about playing in Jeddah, the city where Al Ittihad is based. In his final game for Madrid, he bid farewell to the fans by scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
Al Ittihad, who surpassed Ronaldo’s former team Al-Nassr from Riyadh, secured their first Saudi league title since 2009. Benzema will join a squad led by coach Nuno Espirito Santo and will play alongside Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who is the league’s top scorer.
