{"id":11144,"date":"2026-02-03T07:44:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T07:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/?p=11144"},"modified":"2026-02-03T07:44:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T07:44:56","slug":"karim-benzema-joins-al-hilal-ballon-dor-winner-begins-a-new-saudi-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/karim-benzema-joins-al-hilal-ballon-dor-winner-begins-a-new-saudi-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Karim Benzema Joins Al Hilal: Ballon d\u2019Or Winner Begins a New Saudi Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HERE WE GO!<\/strong> One of football\u2019s biggest stars is on the move again. <strong>Karim Benzema<\/strong> is set to complete a sensational transfer to <strong>Al Hilal<\/strong> from <strong>Al Ittihad<\/strong>, with all agreements now sealed between both clubs and the player\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The deal marks a major new chapter for the former Ballon d\u2019Or winner, who continues his journey in the <strong>Saudi Pro League<\/strong>, further boosting the league\u2019s global profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transfer Confirmed: Benzema Switches Jeddah for Riyadh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The move sees Benzema leave Al Ittihad after a turbulent but impactful spell in Jeddah. Following negotiations at both club and personal level, Al Hilal have successfully secured one of the most decorated strikers of the modern era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Al Hilal, this is not just a signing\u2014it\u2019s a statement. The Riyadh giants are reinforcing their ambition to dominate domestically and in Asia, especially in the <strong>AFC Champions League<\/strong>, where experience and elite mentality are crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benzema\u2019s Saudi Pro League Journey So Far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzema arrived in Saudi Arabia as a global icon after leaving <strong>Real Madrid<\/strong> in 2023. His move to Al Ittihad was one of the earliest blockbuster transfers that helped transform the league into a global attraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At Al Ittihad:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Led the line as the team\u2019s main striker<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contributed crucial goals and assists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Played a key role in high-profile matches against Al Nassr and Al Hilal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helped raise global media attention around Saudi football<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite flashes of brilliance, his time at Ittihad was mixed with injuries, tactical issues, and internal changes. The move to Al Hilal offers a fresh environment, stronger squad depth, and better structural support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Lyon to Madrid to Riyadh: A Legendary Career<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzema\u2019s career is one of consistency at the highest level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Career Highlights:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Came through the ranks at <strong>Olympique Lyonnais<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Became Real Madrid\u2019s all-time second top scorer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Won 5 UEFA Champions League titles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Won multiple La Liga titles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Captured the <strong>Ballon d&#8217;Or<\/strong> in 2022<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>His playing style evolved from a pure striker into a complete forward\u2014dropping deep, linking play, and creating space for teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now in Saudi Arabia, Benzema brings not just goals, but elite professionalism and winning culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Al Hilal Is the Perfect Fit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Al Hilal are already one of the strongest teams in Asia. Adding Benzema gives them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A world-class finisher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leadership in big matches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience in knockout competitions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A global marketing boost<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>He is expected to form a deadly partnership with creative midfielders and fast wingers, making Al Hilal favourites for both league and continental honours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for the Saudi Pro League<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzema\u2019s move reinforces the league\u2019s reputation as more than a retirement destination. The Saudi Pro League now features multiple Ballon d\u2019Or winners, Champions League legends, and top-level coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This transfer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Attracts more global viewers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourages young talents to consider Saudi clubs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthens commercial and broadcast deals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raises competitive standards across the league<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts: A New Chapter for a Football Icon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Karim Benzema\u2019s move to Al Hilal is more than a transfer\u2014it\u2019s another historic milestone in Saudi football\u2019s rapid rise. From conquering Europe with Real Madrid to leading giants in the Middle East, Benzema continues to shape football wherever he goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Al Hilal, he is not just a star signing. He is the face of ambition, legacy, and elite success in the Saudi Pro League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HERE WE GO! One of football\u2019s biggest stars is on the move again. Karim Benzema is set to complete a sensational transfer to Al Hilal from Al Ittihad, with all agreements now sealed between both clubs and the player\u2019s camp. The deal marks a major new chapter for the former Ballon d\u2019Or winner, who continues [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11144","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11144"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11146,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11144\/revisions\/11146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}