French star Karim Benzema has brought his illustrious career with Al-Ittihad to a close after two and a half seasons that represented one of the most prominent periods in his history with Saudi football. This announcement came after the expiration of his contract with the Jeddah-based club, officially departing during the current winter transfer window. He is now heading to Riyadh to begin a new chapter and a different challenge with Al-Hilal, in a deal that has shaken the Saudi sports scene.

A golden career and record-breaking achievements with Al-Ittihad

Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in a historic transfer that captivated the world, carrying with it high hopes and ambitions for him to lead the Jeddah club's new sporting project. These ambitions were translated onto the pitch with remarkable statistics and achievements that are impossible to ignore. Benzema played 83 matches for Al-Ittihad across all competitions, scoring 54 goals and providing 17 assists, confirming his pivotal role as an attacking leader and game-changer in crucial matches, both in terms of scoring goals and creating opportunities for his teammates.

The impact of the French star, a former Ballon d'Or winner, was not limited to individual statistics, but was a crucial element in the podiums, as he contributed directly to Al-Ittihad winning two important titles, the Saudi Professional League and the King's Cup, thus recording his name in gold in the record of champions and leaving a clear mark in the history of the eighty-year-old club.

Historical context and development of the Saudi sports project

Benzema's move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal reflects the significant growth of the Saudi Professional League, where domestic transfers between major clubs now rival the intensity and excitement of the top five European leagues. Benzema's time in Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the qualitative leap forward for sports in the Kingdom, a leap that aims to position the Saudi league among the top 10 leagues globally by attracting elite international football stars.

The impact of the move to Al-Hilal and future expectations

Benzema's move to Al-Hilal represents a significant qualitative addition to the "Leaders" squad. Analysts expect the French star to provide a major attacking boost, enhancing the team's chances of competing on all fronts: domestically, continentally, and perhaps even globally at the Club World Cup. This move not only strengthens Al-Hilal's ranks but also intensifies the competitiveness of the league and confirms that Saudi clubs have become an attractive and stable environment for international stars to stay for extended periods.

With Benzema's departure, Al-Ittihad closes the chapter on an exceptional player who combined world-class experience with leadership on the pitch. His contributions will remain etched in the memories of Al-Ittihad fans, who shared moments of glory and achievement with him. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal fans eagerly await what "Al-Hilal" will offer in the next chapter of its Saudi story.

Summary of Benzema's statistics with Al-Ittihad

• Number of matches: 83 matches
• Goal contributions: 71 contributions
• Goals: 54 goals
• Assists: 17
• Titles: 2 (Saudi League, King's Cup)

Al-Midan Al-Riyadi presents the schedule of matches for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a day packed with football action both locally and internationally. All eyes will be on Saudi Arabian stadiums, which continue to deliver high-level competitive matches, in addition to exciting encounters in European competitions and the Italian league.

Saudi Roshan League: The battle for points heats up

The Saudi Professional League continues today, a competition that has garnered global attention thanks to its impressive infrastructure development and the attraction of international stars. This round features crucial matches that could significantly alter the standings in the mid-table and relegation zones

• Damac vs. Al-Kholoud: The match kicks off at 6:40 PM. Damac will be looking to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a positive result, while Al-Kholoud aims to snatch valuable points to strengthen their position in the league.
• Al-Khaleej vs. Al-Qadisiyah: A mini-derby and highly anticipated match in the Eastern Province kicks off at 8:30 PM. Matches between these two teams are always fiercely contested and generate great fan enthusiasm. Al-Qadisiyah, with its rich history, seeks to confirm its strong comeback, while Al-Khaleej has been delivering impressive performances in recent seasons.
• Al-Ettifaq vs. Al-Taawoun: A tactical football summit par excellence kicks off at 8:30 PM. Both teams are pillars of Saudi football, and their matches always witness a high level of technical competition as they vie for top positions that qualify them for Asian competitions.

English League Cup: London derby steals the show

In England, all eyes are on the capital, London, where the Emirates Stadium will host a fiery clash in the English League Cup (Carabao Cup):

• Arsenal vs. Chelsea: Kick-off is at 11:00 PM. The derby between the Gunners and the Blues defies all predictions, with each side striving to eliminate their arch-rivals and take a step closer to securing their first trophy of the season. This competition holds particular importance for the top clubs, offering a chance to bolster their finances and boost player confidence for the remainder of the season.

Italian League and European Cups: Crucial Matches

The excitement doesn't stop there, but extends to Italian, Spanish and German stadiums:

• Italian Serie A: AC Milan travel to Bologna for a crucial match at 10:45 PM. The Rossoneri will be looking to keep the pressure on the league leaders, while the Renato Dall'Ara stadium is a tough ground for the visitors, promising a tactically challenging encounter.
• Spanish King's Cup: Catalan giants Barcelona face Albacete at 11:00 PM. Despite the difference in quality, cup matches are always full of surprises, and Barcelona will be looking to avoid any unexpected scenarios and advance to the next round.
• German Cup: Bayer Leverkusen, who play modern and entertaining football, meet St. Pauli at 10:45 pm, in a match where Leverkusen will seek to confirm their domestic dominance.

This day promises a rich football feast for fans, with football schools ranging from Italian tactics and English speed to Spanish skill and rising Saudi enthusiasm.

In a resounding move that shook the sports circles in the Kingdom and the region, Al-Hilal Saudi Club officially announced the signing of French star Karim Benzema, coming from the ranks of Al-Ittihad Club, after reaching a final agreement on all the financial and contractual details of the deal during the past few hours, so that “Al-Za’eem” (the leader) has secured one of the most prominent deals of the season.

The official account of Al-Hilal Club published a brief and decisive statement via the “X” platform (formerly Twitter), which read: “We announce the signing of Karim Benzema for a season and a half, after agreeing on all the financial and contractual details,” thus confirming the news that Al-Midan had recently circulated about the veteran striker’s imminent arrival to wear the blue jersey.

Benzema's participation date with Al-Hilal

Karim Benzema is scheduled to join Al-Hilal's group training sessions starting tomorrow, Tuesday, as part of the coaching staff's plan to prepare him physically and technically for the upcoming match, immediately after his official registration with the Saudi Professional League is completed. This signing comes at a crucial time in the season, as Al-Hilal seeks to bolster its attacking force to continue competing for all titles.

This announcement came after Al-Hilal’s goalless draw against Al-Ahli in an exciting “classic” match between the two teams in the twentieth round of the Roshan Professional League, which was held at the “Kingdom Arena” stadium, where the match showed the team’s need for additional attacking solutions to break down the compact defenses in big matches.

The importance of the deal and its impact on the Roshan League

The transfer of Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal is of immense strategic importance, not only domestically but also internationally. Benzema is a global football legend, and his illustrious history with Real Madrid and the French national team makes him a tremendous asset to the "Leaders" squad. His arrival is expected to significantly bolster Al-Hilal's attack, enhancing the team's chances in both continental and domestic competitions.

This transfer also reflects the significant momentum and rapid development of the Saudi Professional League, where Saudi clubs have become a preferred destination for top-tier international stars. The move of a player of Benzema's caliber between two giants like Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal underscores the high level of competitiveness and the clubs' ongoing commitment to improving their technical systems to deliver football befitting the Kingdom's global sporting stature.