Al-Ittihad declared on Tuesday that it had signed French star Karim Benzema to a three-year contract.
“I am very excited to see you in Jeddah,” Benzema said in a Twitter video.
“Benzema is here, A new tiger will roar, Welcome to Ittihad!” Al-Ittihad took to Twitter.
Benzema said his final goodbyes to Real Madrid on Tuesday at the club’s training complex.
“This is the best club on the planet.” “I believe the time has come for me to move on,” he stated.
After leaving Olympique Lyon, where he won four French Ligue 1 titles, the French striker joined Real Madrid in 2009.
During his 14-year stint at Real Madrid, he helped the team win five UEFA Champions League titles, five FIFA team World Cups, four Spanish La Liga crowns, four UEFA Super Cups, four Spanish Super Cups, and three Spanish Cups.
The 35-year-old scored 354 goals in 648 appearances for the Spanish club and is the club’s second all-time leading scorer.
After a spectacular 2021-22 season for club and country, Benzema also won the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2022.