Benzema’s Saudi Debut: No. 90 and a Fresh Start with Al Hilal
2 February 2026
Key details of Benzema's move
The French star Karim Benzema has officially joined Al Hilal, ending his stint with his former club and beginning a new chapter in Saudi football.
Al Hilal announced the signing on a free transfer, with a contract lasting one and a half seasons through the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Jersey number and squad dynamics
The club posted a designed image of Benzema in the team kit to confirm his presence in the club’s official store.
The image reveals that Benzema will wear the number 90 shirt, moving away from his historic Real Madrid and Al Ittihad numbers, which were 9.
Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo currently wears number 9 for Al Hilal, and his future remains unclear after Atletico Madrid pulled back from pursuing him.
This will be the first time Benzema dons number 90 in his career; previously he wore 44, 19, and 10 at Lyon; 11 and 9 at Real Madrid; and 9 at Al Ittihad, plus 9, 10, 11, 18, 19 and 20 for France.
Punchline: If Benzema’s goals counted as cash, Al Hilal just cashed in a fortune.
Punchline: And if the defense tries to stop him, tell them the 90-minute lease has no option to buy.
