By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté has completed a move to Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe, finally joining the Istanbul side after a prolonged and dramatic transfer episode involving Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.
The 34-year-old French midfielder, who previously starred for Chelsea and Leicester City, returns to European football having terminated his contract with Al-Ittihad and signed with Fenerbahçe until June 2028.
The transfer appeared to collapse earlier this week after administrative issues with Al-Ittihad’s submission of paperwork to FIFA’s Transfer Matching System initially blocked his registration with Fenerbahçe. Fenerbahçe publicly blamed Al-Ittihad for entering incorrect transfer information that failed to clear the registration window.
However, Al-Ittihad later confirmed the sale of Kanté’s contract, allowing the deal to proceed and enabling the France international to make the switch before the Turkish transfer deadline.
The transfer was part of a broader arrangement that also sees Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri move in the opposite direction, completing a player exchange between the two clubs.
Kanté’s move marks a return to European competition following two and a half seasons in the Saudi Pro League, where he featured for Al-Ittihad after leaving Chelsea in 2023. He has also been part of the France national team setup, earning his 65th cap in late 2025.
Fenerbahçe, chasing its first Turkish league title in over a decade, has strengthened its midfield this window with Kanté’s arrival alongside other international recruits.
Leave feedback about this