French journalist Santi Ona, a specialist in the transfer market, dropped a bombshell regarding the future of French star N'Golo Kanté , the midfielder for Saudi club Al-Ittihad. Recent reports indicate serious and advanced negotiations between the player and Turkish club Fenerbahçe, paving the way for a potential transfer during the current winter transfer window—a move that could disrupt Al-Ittihad's plans mid-season.
Details of Fenerbahce's offer and Kante's stance
According to what Santi Ona posted on his official X account (formerly Twitter), the past few hours have seen intensive talks between the Turkish club's management and the French player's representatives. The journalist confirmed that N'Golo Kanté is open to the idea of leaving the Saudi Professional League (Roshan League) and returning to European football via the Turkish league, with the player expressing a mutual desire to embark on this new experience.
The report indicated that Kante's main motivation for wanting to return to Europe is his international ambition; the 32-year-old seeks to secure his place in the French national team and participate in the 2026 World Cup finals. The player believes that being in European competitions could enhance his chances of remaining in the sights of coach Didier Deschamps, especially since negotiations are expected to witness strong and decisive intervention in the coming days to finalize the deal.
A remarkable journey and strategic importance for the Union
This news comes at a sensitive time for Al-Ittihad, as Kanté is considered a cornerstone of the club's project and Saudi football in general. Kanté joined the "Tigers" in the summer of 2013 from Chelsea in a free transfer that was the talk of the world at the time, to play alongside his compatriot Karim Benzema. The player delivered outstanding performances characterized by his high level of fitness and his remarkable ability to win back possession, making him the most important element in the team's midfield.
Historically, Kante has a golden record that makes him a target for any club in the world, as he was a crucial element in Leicester City's "miracle" in winning the English Premier League in 2016, then repeating the achievement with Chelsea, in addition to his pivotal role in France's victory in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and winning the Champions League with the Blues.
The potential impact of the departure on the balance of power
If this deal goes through, Kanté's departure will be a significant blow to Al-Ittihad, who rely heavily on him to control the tempo of the game and link the lines, especially given the fierce competition both domestically and in Asia. Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe are looking to bolster their squad with world-class players to challenge their arch-rivals Galatasaray, and the addition of a player of Kanté's caliber and experience would be a tremendous boost to the Turkish league.
The reports included in the news indicate that the player's contract ends at the end of the current season - according to the source - which gives him the right to sign for any club now, which puts the Al-Ittihad management under great pressure to either renew the contract or agree to his departure to benefit financially instead of him leaving for free, pending what the coming days will bring in terms of official developments.
