In a surprising and exciting development, the issue of the future of French star N'Golo Kante, the midfielder of Al-Ittihad Club, has resurfaced, as press reports revealed the resumption of negotiations between his current club and Turkish football giant Fenerbahce, just hours before the closing of the winter transfer window in Türkiye.
Reliable transfer journalist Santi Ona ignited the situation with a tweet on his official X account, confirming that negotiations between Al-Ittihad and Fenerbahçe regarding N'Golo Kanté's transfer will resume. Ona added that the French international already has a preliminary agreement with the Turkish club, noting that the transfer window in Turkey closes on February 5th, putting significant pressure on all parties to finalize the deal.
Background to the troubled deal
This development comes just hours after Fenerbahçe officially announced the collapse of a swap deal that was being prepared with Al-Ittihad. The deal involved not only N'Golo Kanté but also Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri. The Turkish club attributed the collapse in its statement to "procedural errors by the other club in the Transfer Matching System (TMS).".
Fenerbahçe explained in its statement that it had completed all procedures meticulously, from reaching agreements with the players based on the technical staff's recommendations, through conducting medical examinations, to submitting all required documents on time. The club placed the blame on the other party, accusing them of entering incorrect data into the international system, which prevented the completion of the registration process before the legal deadline.
Kante's importance and the potential impact of the deal
N'Golo Kanté's move to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 is considered one of the most prominent transfers in the Saudi Professional League, given his illustrious career, which includes winning the 2018 World Cup with France, the Champions League with Chelsea, and the English Premier League twice. Since joining Al-Ittihad, Kanté has consistently delivered high-level performances and become a key player in the team's midfield.
The departure of a player of Kanté's caliber mid-season would be a major blow to Al-Ittihad's domestic and continental ambitions, and would raise questions about the Saudi league's ability to retain its world-class stars in the long term. On the other hand, his arrival at Fenerbahçe would be a sensational signing, significantly boosting the Turkish team's strength in their domestic league title race and increasing their chances of competing in European competitions. The coming hours will be crucial in determining the final fate of one of the world's best midfielders.
