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Al Ittihad rushed to replace Karim Benzema after his move to Al Hilal, paying €33 million for teenage striker George Ilenikhena, almost three times his estimated market value.
Al Ittihad reacted in panic after losing Karim Benzema to rivals Al Hilal, rushing through a deal that raised eyebrows across the Saudi Pro League.
Benzema completed one of the most controversial internal transfers in Saudi football after falling out with Al Ittihad’s management over contract terms. His move to Al Hilal left the club scrambling for a replacement.
The solution came quickly, but not cheaply.
Al Ittihad agreed to pay €33 million for George Ilenikhena, a 19-year-old Nigerian striker currently on the books of Monaco. The fee is close to three times his market value.
The contrast with Benzema could hardly be sharper. While the Frenchman arrived in Saudi Arabia as a Ballon d’Or winner and global icon, Ilenikhena arrives as a raw prospect.
At Monaco, the teenager was mostly a squad player. He started just three Ligue 1 matches and finished the season with 10 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions.
Ilenikhena first caught attention at Royal Antwerp in Belgium, earning a move to Monaco in 2024 for €19 million. Less than a year later, Al Ittihad have paid a huge premium to fast-track him into a leading role.
The deal underlines the chaotic fallout from Benzema’s departure. Rather than planning a long-term transition, Al Ittihad opted for a hurried gamble, spending heavily on potential rather than proven quality.
With Al Hilal strengthening aggressively and landing Benzema, the pressure on Ilenikhena will be immediate. He is not just a new signing, he is the symbol of how abruptly Al Ittihad’s project has shifted.
Replacing a legend was never going to be easy. Doing it with a teenager at triple market value only amplifies the risk.