Al Hilal and Karim Benzema at odds over early contract termination

French striker Karim Benzema, who joined Saudi club Al Hilal in January after a spell at Al-Ittihad, is refusing all proposals from the club to end his contract early. His deal runs until June 2027, and Al Hilal wants to terminate it now to free a foreign‑player slot for new signings.

The club offered Benzema a move to a newly promoted Saudi Pro League side, but he rejected the option. The only scenario Al Hilal sees for an early exit would be paying him the full salary for the final year of his contract, a costly move the board says is difficult to justify. In his short tenure, Benzema has made 13 appearances and scored nine goals, yet many fans blame him for the team's overall dip in form.