Reliable press sources, most notably journalist Yagiz Oglu, revealed administrative complications that prevented the completion of two prominent deals in the winter transfer market, related to the future of French star N'Golo Kante with Saudi club Al-Ittihad, and the possibility of Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri joining the ranks of “Al-Ameed” coming from Sevilla, in a deal that would have been linked to Kante’s transfer to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Background of the event and the context of the winter transfer window
This development comes at the close of an active winter transfer window for the Saudi Professional League, which is keen to continue attracting international football stars. Al-Ittihad, the reigning league champions, entered the transfer market with the aim of strengthening their squad after inconsistent results in the first half of the season. Attention has focused on bolstering their attacking options, which explains the strong interest in a top-class striker like Youssef En-Nesyri, who has proven his worth in La Liga and with the Moroccan national team.
According to details provided by Yagiz, the documents for both deals were submitted to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation within the specified timeframe. However, they were not finalized before the official closing of the transfer window on February 2nd, resulting in a freeze on the procedures. The source indicated that Al-Ittihad was close to finalizing a complex swap deal that would have seen Kanté move to Fenerbahçe, while En-Nesyri join Marcelo Gallardo's squad, but time constraints and regulatory procedures prevented the transfer.
The importance of the deal and its expected impact
Domestically, En-Nesyri's arrival would have been a tremendous boost to Al-Ittihad's attack, providing a crucial tactical option alongside Karim Benzema, particularly thanks to his aerial prowess and pace on the counter-attack. The departure of N'Golo Kanté, who joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, would have been a major surprise. Despite his short stint, the 2018 World Cup winner proved his worth as a key player in midfield, delivering outstanding performances in both defensive and playmaking roles, and replacing him would have been a difficult task.
Regionally and internationally, this complex deal reflects the interconnectedness of the global transfer market, linking major clubs in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Spain. Its failure also highlights the bureaucratic challenges that can hinder even the biggest deals, underscoring that financial power alone is insufficient to complete transfers under strict regulations and tight deadlines.
In a last-ditch effort to salvage the situation, the parties involved (Al-Ittihad, Fenerbahçe, and the player Kanté) submitted a formal request to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for an extension to finalize the procedures. The fate of the deal remains uncertain pending an official response, while the transfer window in Turkey remains open until February 6th, offering a glimmer of hope for a resolution to this administrative impasse.
