Leaving Saudi Arabia could cost Karim Benzema an enormous amount of money. With his future at Al-Hilal currently under discussion, the Frenchman reportedly has two separate contracts. And one of them could see him lose more than €75 million if he decides to continue his career outside the Saudi league.
Benzema appears to be trapped by a contract that is simply too lucrative to walk away from. According to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, he first has a standard deal with Al-Hilal, guaranteeing him an annual salary of $25 million until June 30, 2027. From September onwards, around $20.8 million, equivalent to 78.1 million Saudi riyals, would still be owed to him.
More than €75 million at stake for Benzema
However, it is Benzema’s second agreement that makes the situation particularly significant. Independently of his Al-Hilal contract, the former Real Madrid striker is reportedly tied to Saudi football through the Saudi Pro League recruitment programme. That deal earns him $23 million per season and runs until 2030. Asharq Al-Awsat estimates that around $88.2 million, or 330.6 million Saudi riyals and roughly €75 million, could still be due under that agreement.
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That huge sum could disappear if Benzema returned to Europe or joined another foreign league. His contract reportedly includes a clause preventing him from playing outside Saudi Arabia while the agreement remains in force. Al-Hilal would not be responsible for those 330.6 million riyals because the club is not a party to the second contract. Any negotiated departure from Al-Hilal would therefore mainly concern the approximately $20.8 million remaining on his club deal until June 2027.
Saudi reports add that Al-Hilal do not want to terminate Benzema’s contract unilaterally and would prefer an amicable agreement. The Frenchman could then look for another Saudi Pro League club, potentially allowing him to keep his second contract until 2030. From a sporting perspective, Benzema has so far reportedly rejected Al-Hilal’s proposal to register him only for Asian competitions. A return to Europe would therefore mean much more than giving up his Al-Hilal contract: he could also lose an agreement worth more than $88 million, a financial factor likely to weigh heavily on the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s decision.
