N’Golo Kanté
Fenerbahce have officially confirmed the signing of France international midfielder N’Golo Kanté from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, bringing an end to days of uncertainty surrounding the deal.
The move had appeared to collapse on Tuesday after Fenerbahce issued a statement accusing Al-Ittihad of failing to submit the required paperwork to finalize the transfer. The agreement was part of a swap deal that would see Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri move in the opposite direction.
However, the Turkish giants announced on Wednesday that the outstanding issues had been resolved, clearing the way for Kanté to complete his switch to Istanbul after two and a half years in Saudi Arabia.
The 34-year-old joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea in 2023, following a hugely successful spell in England. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Kanté won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s finest midfielders.
Kanté initially moved to Chelsea from Leicester City in 2016, a year after playing a pivotal role in the Foxes’ historic Premier League title triumph.
Meanwhile, En-Nesyri’s move to Al-Ittihad is expected to help fill the void left by former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who departed the club earlier this week to join Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal.
The completion of the deal represents a major boost for Fenerbahce as they strengthen their squad with proven international experience ahead of the new season.