Explained: How much Benzema will earn at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia

Karim Benzema signed for Al Ittihad this summer

Explained: How much Benzema will earn at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia

Stephen Oladehinde 20:46 - 07.06.2023

Karim Benzema has officially joined Al Ittihad on a free transfer after leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season.

The Frenchman ended his 14 years stay at the Bernabeu after winning several awards and trophies for the club.

The Ballon d’Or winner announced on the last day of the season that he will be leaving Madrid as he seeks a new challenge.

He has now signed for Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad with a well-structured salary being offered to him by the club.

With Benzema joining Al Ittihad, we take a look at how much the Los Blancos legend will earn at his new club.

Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad
Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad

Benzema’s salary breakdown

Karim Benzema will receive 100 million euros a season in salary along with a €20 million bonus for serving as an ambassador for the 2030 World Cup, which Saudi Arabia is vying to host including other add-ons according to Marca.

In addition, the former Real Madrid captain will get nothing less than €220 million, which could increase to €320 million in earnings overall.

Romano Fabrizio also confirmed that Benzema will earn almost €200m per season net salary with commercial deals included.

The French International earned €28 million per season at Real Madrid, but at Al Ittihad, he will now earn more than his previous salary, without any tax obligations.

According to our calculations, the 35-year-old salary breakdown will be (Euro/Naira):

  • Per Month: €16,666,666 (₦8,233,333,004)
  • Per Week: €4,166,666 (₦2,058,333,004)
  • Per Day: €595,238 (₦294,047,572)
  • Per Hour: €24,802 (₦12,252,188)
  • Per Minute: €413 (₦204,022)
  • Per Second: €6.9 (₦3,408.6)

Interesting facts about Al Ittihad

Al Ittihad just won the Arab League, defeating Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. They are managed by the former Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The team was established in 1927 and plays professional football. It is situated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The team has played its whole history in Saudi Arabia's Professional League, the country's premier division for football.

King Abdullah Sports City, the second-largest stadium in Saudi Arabia with a capacity of 62,345 people, is the stadium of Al-Ittihad which serves as Jeddah's primary stadium.

The Saudi Arabian team has won 35 trophies in total, including nine Leagues, nine King's Cups, eight Prince's Cups, three Federation Cups, one Super Cup, five AFC Championships, one Cup Winners' Cup, one Arab Champions League, and one Gulf Club Cup.

Al Ittihad and Al-Hilal have a protracted rivalry which is known as the Saudi El Clasico and is regarded as the most important and widely-watched annual game in Saudi football.

They have won the AFC Champions League twice in a row, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup once, the GCC Champions League once, and the Arab Champions League once each. The clubs are regarded as two of the most successful Asian clubs on a domestic and continental level.

Al-Ittihad is the second-most prosperous club domestically in Saudi Arabia, having won nine league championships, five King's Cups, eight Crown Prince Cups, three Saudi Federation Cups, and one Saudi Super Cup.