Kante Swap Deal Collapses As Fenerbahce Blames Al-Ittihad Over Failed Move

Fenerbahce state that administrative errors by Al-Ittihad caused N'Golo Kante's planned transfer to collapse. The Turkish club expected to finalise a swap deal on Monday, with Kante arriving and Youssef En-Nesyri moving to Saudi Arabia. Fenerbahce now say the move failed because Al-Ittihad did not complete key registration steps.

The proposed arrangement was built around Al-Ittihad’s need to replace Karim Benzema, who has joined Al-Hilal. En-Nesyri was due to fill that gap in attack, while Kante would strengthen Fenerbahce’s midfield. Agreements with both players were in place before the late breakdown in the transfer process.

Fenerbahce detailed their position in a formal announcement, stressing that club officials followed every required procedure.

The statement made clear that internal planning and communication with the technical staff guided each step. Fenerbahce also underlined that medical checks and contract talks had been finished without delays or complications.

A Fener statement read: "The transfer process involving Al-Ittihad, N'Golo Kante and Youssef En-Nesyri has been meticulously managed by our club in line with our plans and with utmost care in all respects. " The club presented that opening line as evidence of structured preparation for the abandoned deal.

According to Fenerbahce, all required documents were uploaded correctly into the registration system before the deadline. Officials believed that the transfer of Kante, and the exit of En-Nesyri, would be confirmed. Internal checks at the Turkish club suggested no missing paperwork and no technical issues from their side.

The club then claimed the problem came from Saudi Arabia. Fenerbahce said Al-Ittihad entered some relevant information incorrectly, which meant the swap could not be processed within the official registration window. That error, Fenerbahce argued, stopped completion of the transfer even though other steps were ready.

Fenerbahce responded by requesting an extension to the registration period and by contacting FIFA. Club representatives reported that they held the necessary discussions and followed every instruction. Despite these efforts, the Turkish side said Al-Ittihad never finalised the outstanding procedures or gave any clear explanation.

The statement from Fenerbahce noted that the transfer therefore remained incomplete and had to be abandoned. Officials at the club accepted that the episode created frustration among supporters and within the squad. Fenerbahce added that work on reshaping the squad would continue with the same discipline and intent.

KAMUOYUNA BLGLENDRME Al Ittihad Kulb ile NGolo Kant ve Youssef En-Nesyriyi kapsayan transfer sreci, kulbmz tarafndan planland ekilde ve tm ynleriyle titizlikle yrtlmtr. Teknik heyetimizin talebi dorultusunda ilerleyen bu srete oyuncularla anlama pic.twitter.com/rRZ1ORgXCZFenerbahe SK (@Fenerbahce) February 3, 2026

Fenerbahce Al-Ittihad N'Golo Kante transfer context and statistics

Kante joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea in 2023, adding major experience to the Saudi Pro League. The midfielder is 34 years old and has remained a regular starter this season. Kante has played 18 league games for Al-Ittihad, scoring twice from midfield while also contributing defensively.

Defensive metrics highlight Kante’s influence within the Al-Ittihad squad. Kante has made 18 successful tackles in league play this season, the second-highest figure for the team. Only former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has more tackles, while Danilo Pereira leads Al-Ittihad in overall duels won.

Danilo Pereira has collected 80 duels won, with Kante close behind on 72, underlining consistent involvement. These numbers show Kante remains active in challenges despite the uncertainty around the failed transfer. For now, Kante stays an Al-Ittihad player, while Fenerbahce continue searching for midfield options and attacking solutions.