Lyon to rake in millions from Benzema's transfer to Al-Hilal: FIFA regulations details
Recent international press reports have revealed a welcome financial surprise for French club Olympique Lyonnais, related to the intense activity in the Saudi Professional League (SPL) transfer market. Reports indicate that the French club has secured a substantial financial share from the transfer of veteran striker Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to their arch-rivals Al-Hilal, based on the strict regulations of FIFA.
Details of the deal and the solidarity mechanism
According to the sports economics website Sportion, the transfer fee for the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner to Al-Hilal was approximately €25 million. This substantial sum has had a positive impact on the club where Benzema's talent was nurtured. FIFA regulations, specifically the "Solidarity Mechanism," mandate that a percentage of any player transfer fee (whether international or sometimes domestic with international implications) be allocated to the clubs that contributed to the player's training and development between the ages of 12 and 23.
Lyon... the factory that never stops making a profit
Given Karim Benzema's illustrious career, he spent his most formative years within the walls of Olympique Lyonnais' academy, from the age of twelve to twenty-one. Based on precise calculations, the French club's share of this transfer is estimated at around one million euros. This sum represents a delayed return on investment for Lyon, a club renowned globally as one of the leading "talent factories" in European football, where the club continues to profit from its former players long after their departure.
A rich history and global influence
This financial event cannot be separated from the historical context of the relationship between Benzema and Lyon. The French star progressed through the club's youth ranks until he reached the first team, contributing to Lyon's absolute dominance of the French league during that era, before leaving in a historic deal to Real Madrid in 2009. Today, with the tremendous development of the Saudi league and its attraction of the world's top stars, internal moves between top clubs (such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) are resonating globally, not only on a technical and fan level, but also on an economic level, reminding European clubs that investing in talent is a long-term investment whose returns do not end with the first sale of a player's contract.
