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Karim Benzema was reportedly on the verge of making a return to European football to close out his career at the club where it all started: his childhood club OL Lyon.
According to L'Equipe, Lyon explored the possibility of signing the 38-year-old forward earlier this summer. The report suggested that Benzema would have been willing to rejoin the Ligue 1 club even without pay, "out of love for OL and his hometown."
Benzema was still contracted to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal when the prospect of a Lyon return emerged, making his move back to Europe complicated. Ultimately, Lyon changed course and brought in Belgian forward Loïs Openda on a budget season-long loan from Juventus.
However, after appearing in Al Hilal's first three matches of the season, Benzema's stint at the club came to a sudden end. L'Equipe reported that he never saw eye-to-eye with head coach Simone Inzaghi, and despite netting 10 goals in 16 outings for Al Hilal, he and the club reached a mutual agreement to part ways during the final weekend of August.
Benzema became a free agent and continues to search for his next destination.
Why Karim Benzema's Return to Lyon Didn't Happen
The primary obstacle blocking Benzema's return to his childhood club was the ambassador deal he signed with the Saudi Pro League upon joining state-owned club Al Ittihad after departing Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
Beyond his playing salary, Benzema was also benefiting from a highly lucrative agreement to serve as one of the commercial faces of the Saudi Pro League, a contract that runs through 2030.
The agreement, however, is contingent on Benzema playing in Saudi Arabia — specifically at clubs owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), such as Al Ittihad and Al Hilal. This arrangement effectively bars Benzema from playing anywhere outside Saudi Arabia for the duration of the deal.
Consequently, a return to Lyon — or any other European club — is not a realistic option for Benzema until his contract expires in 2030, by which time he will be 42. Without a club and with few viable options, the prospect of retirement becomes increasingly likely with each passing day.
Benzema made his professional debut at 17 with Lyon and went on to score 66 goals in 148 appearances for the club. He claimed four Ligue 1 titles and was named the French league's best player in 2008–09, his last season at the club before making the move to Real Madrid.
The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner returning to Europe to wrap up his career at his boyhood club would have been a storybook ending. As things stand, however, it appears increasingly likely that Benzema may have already played his final professional match.