French World Cup-winner Ngolo Kante finalized his move to Turkish club Fenerbahce from Saudi team Al-Ittihad on Wednesday. The club thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his support in securing the multiple-time Premier League winner.
The 34-year-old Kante was initially set to move to Istanbul earlier, but the transfer encountered issues due to an administrative error. Erdogan was in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday making his first visit to the country in more than two years.
“Some stories take time, but they don’t stay unfinished. Welcome to our Fenerbahçe, N’Golo Kante,” the clubs said on social media.
Bazı hikayeler zaman alır, ama yarım kalmaz.
Fenerbahçemize hoş geldin N’Golo Kante. pic.twitter.com/Yd8t0lldUd
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) February
4, 2026
“Our club has successfully completed the transfer of N’Golo Kante, a prominent figure in world football,” Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran said.
“On behalf of myself and our club, I would like to express my gratitude to our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his significant support in ensuring the positive conclusion of this process, which will contribute to the development of both Fenerbahce and Turkish football,” he added.
While the length of Kante’s contract remains undisclosed, it presents the former Leicester and Chelsea star with an opportunity to strengthen his bid for a spot in France’s World Cup finals squad.
Fenerbahce, crowned Turkish champions 19 times, also signed Kante’s fellow French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi during the winter transfer window.
They are currently three points behind fellow-Istanbul side Galatasaray in a close contest for the league title and will face English club Nottingham Forest in the Europa League knockout phase play-offs later this month.
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