Karim Benzema is back on the market. At 38, the former Real Madrid striker has officially left Al-Hilal after spending only a few months with the Riyadh club. The situation has inevitably reignited speculation about his future, including the long-running question of a possible return to Ligue 1.
KB9 has reached a major crossroads. After joining Al-Hilal last February following his departure from Al-Ittihad, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner reached an agreement with the club to terminate a contract that was initially due to run until June 2027. Benzema is therefore now a free agent and must decide what comes next in his career. Despite being 38, the former France international does not necessarily intend to retire. According to AS, he wants to keep playing, with interest reported from MLS as well as Saudi Arabia, where Al-Shabab and even a return to Al-Ittihad have been mentioned.
Could Benzema make a surprise Ligue 1 return?
A move back to France is naturally generating plenty of discussion. Benzema remains closely associated with Olympique Lyonnais, the club where he developed and made his professional debut before beginning his legendary spell at Real Madrid. However, no concrete negotiations with any Ligue 1 club have been reported. Fabrizio Romano has even indicated that a return to Europe is not currently part of his plans, meaning glamorous possibilities such as PSG, Marseille, Monaco or Paris FC are not being considered at this stage.
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A return to Lyon also appears extremely complicated. When asked in the spring about potentially finishing his career at OL, Benzema made it clear that he was not really considering returning as a player, although he was much more open to working for his boyhood club in another role in the future. Lyon’s financial situation is another obstacle, with the DNCG placing restrictions on the club’s wage bill this summer, making it difficult to accommodate a player accustomed to huge salaries in Saudi Arabia.
A Ligue 1 comeback therefore remains theoretically possible while the French transfer window remains open, with the market closing on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:59 p.m. But given Benzema’s previous comments, the financial constraints involved and reports suggesting that a European return is not his priority, Ligue 1 currently looks more like a dream scenario for supporters than a genuinely advanced option. At 38, however, Benzema has one major advantage: he is now fully in control of his future. MLS, another Saudi adventure or a huge European surprise? The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s next move will be eagerly awaited.
