Karim Benzema and Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal agreed on August 31, 2026, to end his contract, cutting short his time with the club that began in February this year [1, 2, 3]. Benzema, 38, had joined Al Hilal after a contract dispute with his previous Saudi team, Al Ittihad, in late January 2026 [1, 2, 3]. He still had one year remaining on his Al Hilal contract at the time of termination [1, 2, 3].
Benzema first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023, signing with Al Ittihad. He helped lead them to a Saudi Pro League title in 2025 before his contract dispute led to his February 2026 transfer to Al Hilal [1, 2].
Al Hilal publicly thanked Benzema for his "contributions during his time with the team, as well as the professionalism, commitment, and leadership he demonstrated both on and off the pitch," according to the club statement [1]. Benzema posted on social media, "A chapter comes to an end," acknowledging his departure [1, 2].
The exact length of Benzema’s spell at Al Hilal is reported variously as just under eight months or six months [1, 2, 3].
Meanwhile, one day before Benzema’s exit, Al Hilal signed England forward Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in a transfer reported to cost between £50 million and £51 million, depending on the source [1, 2, 3].
Benzema has a separate agreement to serve as an ambassador for Saudi tourism and the 2034 World Cup until 2030 [1, 2]. Spanish sports daily AS reported Benzema does not plan to retire and has received offers from Major League Soccer and other Saudi clubs, though some speculation about retirement remains unconfirmed [1, 2, 3].
Al Hilal and Benzema parted ways on the day of the announcement, marking a key turning point for the striker less than eight months after joining the Riyadh club.
