The famous Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, an expert in the global transfer market, dropped a bombshell regarding the future of French star N'Golo Kante, the midfielder of Saudi club Al-Ittihad, revealing rapid developments in negotiations for his transfer to the Turkish league during the current winter transfer window.
According to what Romano posted on his official X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Turkish club Fenerbahçe is exerting significant pressure to finalize the deal. He stated, "Fenerbahçe is very insistent on signing N'Golo Kanté, and the player has given his initial approval to complete the transfer." This statement opens the door to widespread speculation about the World Cup winner's future with Al-Ittihad in the second half of the season.
Kante's career with Al-Ittihad and his statistics
Al-Ittihad successfully acquired the experienced French star (34 years old) on a free transfer from Chelsea during the summer transfer window of the 2023/2024 season, making him a key player in the Saudi Professional League project. This season, Kanté has made 22 appearances for Al-Ittihad across all competitions, scoring one goal and accumulating 1927 minutes of playing time, demonstrating a high level of physical and technical commitment despite his age.
Fenerbahce's project and the influence of Jose Mourinho
Fenerbahçe's strong desire to sign Kanté stems from the ambitious project the Turkish club is undertaking this season, particularly with the experienced Portuguese coach José Mourinho at the helm. The club seeks to bolster its midfield with a player possessing international experience and a commanding presence to help it compete fiercely for the Turkish Super League title against its traditional rival Galatasaray, in addition to its European ambitions.
A history full of achievements
N'Golo Kanté boasts an exceptional career that makes him a formidable asset to any team. He etched his name in Premier League history by winning the title with Leicester City in a remarkable 2016 triumph, a feat he repeated with Chelsea, in addition to lifting the Champions League trophy. Internationally, Kanté was a key player in France's 2018 World Cup victory in Russia. The departure of a player of his caliber from the Saudi league may represent a significant loss for Al-Ittihad, but it also underscores the continued appeal of players from the Russian league to major European clubs.
