The 31-year-old signs a three-year deal in Saudi Arabia, as he joins the same team Edouard Mendy moved to from Chelsea earlier in the summer.
Browsing: Karim Benzema
Los Blancos are four forwards down on their squad from last season, with Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz and Eden Hazard all leaving the club.
The France striker and Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-season contract with the Saudi Pro League club on Tuesday
The French striker, 35, called time on his Bernabeu career after 14 years and has reportedly agreed a deal worth around £86million-a-season to join the Jeddah-based Saudi Pro League champions.
On Sunday, Real Madrid announced that the Ballon d’Or winner would leave the club as a free agent at season end.
Karim Benzema has reportedly extended his contract with Real Madrid until the summer of 2024.
Benzema, the scourge of Chelsea at the same stage of the competition last season, converted from point blank range in the 21st minute when Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Vinicius Junior but could only touch the ball in the direction of the Frenchman.
A Karim Benzema hat-trick and a Vinicius Junior strike earned a 4-0 Clasico victory over FC Barcelona at Camp Nou.
A global panel of national team coaches and captains, as well as journalists and fans, have whittled the initial shortlist of 14 players down to three.
In the semifinal match, Real Madrid drew first blood as French forward Karim Benzema scored from the penalty spot in the 39th minute at King Fahd Stadium.
Karim Benzema made the breakthrough from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute before adding a second in the final exchanges, and the result has seen the reigning champions climb one point above Barcelona to the summit, with the Catalan outfit in action against Espanyol on Saturday.
The 35-year-old was exiled from the team between 2015 and 2021 before being recalled by Didier Deschamps.
The opener from Giroud saw the centre-forward become France’s highest goalscorer of all time, with the 36-year-old, who has benefited from Karim Benzema’s absence at the tournament, moving past Thierry Henry.
The 34-year-old won his first Ballon d’Or award for 2022 at Monday’s ceremony in Paris after propelling Los Blancos to a La Liga and Champions League double last season.
He was the overwhelming favourite after his remarkable performances last season helped his club win the Champions League and La Liga
The France striker missed Real Madrid’s last three matches prior to the international break with a knee injury.
Benzema, who was awarded UEFA men’s player of the year award for 2021/22, was forced off after just 30 minutes at Celtic Park on Tuesday as Madrid beat the Scottish Premier League side 3-0.
Club teammate Thibaut Courtois – who was named man of the match for his heroics in May’s Champions League final win over Liverpool – and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were named on the final shortlist.
“The winner will be named – along with the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Player and Coach of the Year – during the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Istanbul on Thursday 25 August,” UEFA said in a statement.
The forward was in career-best form last season, scoring 15 goals and nabbing two assists as he inspired Real Madrid to their 14th UEFA Champions League triumph.