Christian Benteke: As Premier League cult hero joins Al Wahda, which clubs has he played for?
A striker who scored 86 goals in the Premier League has just joined the ninth club of his career.
Christian Benteke is perhaps best known for his stint at Crystal Palace, where he spearheaded a fearsome attacking line with Wilfried Zaha. The Belgian centre-forward played 177 games for the club, having previously had spells for the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Now 35 years old, Benteke has moved clubs once again - although he now plays football at a far less competitive level.
The striker has penned a new contract at Al Wahda, a side in the UAE Professional League. Benteke was a free agent after leaving MLS side DC United at the end of last season.
A club spokesperson said: “Al Wahda Football Club announces the signing of Belgian professional Christian Benteke , as part of the club's management plans to address the team's needs and strengthen its success factors for the next stage.”
Born in Kinshasa in DR Congo, Benteke’s family fled to Belgium in 1993 during the Mobutu regime; the striker first burst onto the scene in the Belgian Pro League, joining Genk in 2007.
He moved to Standard Liege in 2009, returning to Genk two years later before he made his Premier League debut in 2012, joining Aston Villa for £7m.
In 2015, Benteke moved to Liverpool but did not fit into manager Jurgen Klopp’s setup, leaving one year later in favour of Crystal Palace.
The Belgian left Selhurst Park in 2022 to join DC United in the MLS.