Overview
- Al‑Hilal and Karim Benzema announced on Monday that they had mutually agreed to end the striker's contract with immediate effect.
- Tensions had surfaced after the season opener in mid‑August when Benzema reacted angrily to a substitution and was later left out of a matchday squad.
- Al‑Hilal signed Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa for a reported €58.4 million as part of a quick attacking overhaul that increased competition for Benzema's place.
- Reports cite salary disputes and the club's squad reshaping as reasons for the split, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Benzema will soon make a public statement on his next step.
- Options on the table include retirement, a switch to another Saudi club such as Al‑Ittihad or Al‑Shabab, or offers from Major League Soccer, while a return to Europe is reported as unlikely.