Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — More than 60,000 excited fans of Al-Ittihad Club are expected to converge at the stands of Al-Jawhara Stadium of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah to greet their newest player Karim Benzema.

Al-Ittihad is organizing a special ceremony to welcome the international star, who arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday night.

The club has offered tickets for sale for all fans who want to attend the ceremony https://ittihadclub.etickets.com.sa/Pages/Home.aspx?show=events

The gathering of the jubilant fans will be for the second time in a week, when they gathered to celebrate Al-Ittihad’s crowning of Saudi Pro League title last Wednesday after a long wait of 14 years.

Al-Ittihad Club officials started on Wednesday offering tickets for the fans to participate in the reception of Benzema.

The French striker Benzema, Ballon d'Or winner for 2022, signed a three-season contract with Al-Ittihad on Tuesday.

In a statement on its Twitter account, Al-Ittihad posted a link to obtain tickets for the grand reception party, with a caption: “In Jeddah, we meet.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Al-Ittihad announced that the former Real Madrid captain, who won 25 titles with the Spanish team, is on his way to Jeddah.

In a video posted by Al-Ittihad via its Twitter account, Benzema said while addressing the team’s fans on Wednesday: “I am excited to see you in Jeddah.”

Al-Ittihad has reached an agreement with French striker Benzema as a free agent after Real Madrid had confirmed that the 35-year-old would leave the La Liga club after 14 trophy-laden years.

Al-Ittihad’s chairman and vice chairman were in Madrid to hammer out a “record deal” with Benzema. The Frenchman is the second-highest goal-scorer with 353 goals for Madrid in all competitions, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 450 goals.