"Saudi-bound N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzema set to earn more than combined wages of 7 Premier League squads"

Al-Ittihad-bound N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema’s wages will reportedly eclipse the combined wages of seven Premier League squads.

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has agreed to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad as a free agent, penning a massive £172 million per year deal with the club (via transfer expert Fabrizio Romano).

He will join them on a two-year deal, with the option of an additional year, at the end of his Real Madrid contract on June 30.

According to English outlet football.london, Chelsea icon N’Golo Kante is set to join his compatriot at Al-Ittihad. It has been claimed that Kante will agree a two-year deal worth £86 million per year after his Chelsea contract expires at the end of the month.

As a duo, they're set to earn a whopping £258 million per year in Saudi Arabia. Their combined earnings are more than the combined wages of Burnley, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Fulham, Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As per Sportrac, Burnley, Brentford and Brighton spend £16.9 million, £30 million, and £36.4 million, respectively, on wages each year. Bournemouth players earn £43.8 million. Fulham players take home £54 million, and Wolves' make a combined total of £63 million. As per Salary Sport, the newly promoted Luton spend just £9.2 million in wages.

Combined, they spend £253.3 million, a good £5 million less than what Al-Ittihad are set to spend on N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema next season.

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Karim Benzema thanks Al-Ittihad fans for warm reception in Jeddah

Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema was unveiled as an Al-Ittihad player at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah on Thursday (June 8) night. Fans packed the stadium to welcome the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and chanted his name throughout the presentation.

Overwhelmed with the warm reception, the Frenchman took to Twitter to express his gratitude.

He wrote:

“Thank you Jeddah, from the bottom of my heart. Tonight was a very special moment that I will never forget.”

Al-Ittihad, who won the 2022-23 Saudi Pro League, finishing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, have become the first non-European team to sign a Ballon d’Or winner.