Karim Benzema's Future: Saudi Arabia, America, or a Surprise Move?

Karim Benzema is edging towards the Al-Hilal exit door as the summer window ticks down, but his next destination remains wide open.

The French striker, now 38, has three realistic paths on the table, with a continuation in Saudi Arabia or a move to the United States currently leading the way.

Saudi stay still on the table

Spanish outlet "AS" reports that Benzema is seriously considering remaining in the Saudi Pro League. That could mean a return to familiar ground at Al-Ittihad, where he has already worn the shirt, or a fresh start at Al-Shabab, who are watching the situation closely in the coming weeks.

His Al-Hilal chapter has been brief. Benzema only arrived in the last winter window, but his time there already looks close to ending. The club’s hierarchy are in active talks to terminate his contract before deadline day, underlining how quickly the project around him has shifted.

No farewell just yet

What comes next is less clear. Benzema is not ready to walk away from the game, at least not publicly. "AS" state he has no plans to retire, while "Marca" leave a small crack in the door, suggesting retirement has not been ruled out entirely.

So every option stays alive. Just not Europe.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that Benzema has ruled out a return to European football for now. That stance effectively cools the recurring links with Lyon, the club where he first exploded onto the scene and which had been heavily mentioned as a romantic final stop.

America or a left-field twist?

If he does not stay in Saudi Arabia, the American league looms as the standout alternative. A move to the United States would place Benzema among the growing list of global stars choosing that route in the final stretch of their careers, and it is being treated as a serious option.

There is also a more surprising thread in the background. Reports continue to connect his name with a possible spell in the Scottish league, a left-field possibility that refuses to disappear entirely.

For now, Benzema stands at a crossroads: Saudi Arabia, America, or something completely different. The clock is ticking, and one of modern football’s great No. 9s still has a decision to make about how – and where – he wants to write the final chapters.