Real Madrid club captain Karim Benzema has officially moved to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad on a two-year contract with the option of a further year.

The 35-year-old Frenchman has become a Los Blancos legend since arriving at the club in 2009 from French side Lyon and in his 14 years at the club, Benzema has won the Champions League a mindblowing five times.

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According to Spanish journalist Jose Felix Diaz, The Merengues’ second all-time top goalscorer will be introduced as an Al Ittihad player next Thursday in front of a predicted 65,000 spectators.

The deal was confirmed by the Saudi Arabian club’s official Social Media platforms. Benzema’s contract is set to run until 2026 and the striker is set to earn approximately a net salary of $214 per season, with commercial deals included.

In an official club statement, the veteran forward said, “Al Ittihad is a new challenge for me. It’s a good league and there are many good players. Cristiano Ronaldo is already here, he is a friend who shows that Saudi Arabia is starting to get ahead and I am here to win as I did in Europe”.

🚨 Introducing our newest superstar, Karim @Benzema! Ready to light up our stadium soon ⚽️💥 #Benzema2Ittihad#here2inspireKSA pic.twitter.com/XSQcyRghpO

— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) June 6, 2023

Benzema will now be managed by former Tottenham and Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who won the Saudi Pro League with Al Ittihad for the club’s first time in 14 years.