Fenerbahçe have completed the signing of French midfielder N’Golo Kante, bringing one of world football’s most respected and unassuming champions back to Europe after a two-and-a-half-year spell in Saudi Arabia.
The Istanbul club confirmed Wednesday that Kante signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after arriving from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, turning an earlier announcement into a formal agreement following a brief delay in the registration process.
Fenerbahçe revealed earlier this week that the transfer had stalled after Al-Ittihad failed to input the required details into FIFA’s transfer matching system.
The issue was resolved once the Saudi club officially confirmed Kante’s departure, allowing the move to be registered through Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform.
Kante, 34, will wear the No. 17 shirt for the yellow-and-navy club, beginning a new chapter in a career defined by substance rather than spectacle.
According to the disclosure, Fenerbahçe agreed to a sizeable financial package. Kante received a 14.4 million euros ($17 million) signing bonus, with a salary of 5.5 million euros for the 2025-26 season and 11 million euros annually for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
While the figures reflect the club’s ambition, the tone surrounding the move has remained notably restrained, in keeping with a player whose reputation has long rested on reliability, discipline and professionalism rather than star power.
Al-Ittihad confirmed Kante’s exit before reshaping their squad, signing Morocco forward Youssef En-Nesyri as part of broader changes following Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Hilal.
Fenerbahçe sporting director Devin Özek framed the signing as a long-term investment in experience and values, rather than a short-term headline.
“N’Golo Kante has won almost every major trophy in football, including the World Cup and the Champions League,” Özek said. “His winning mentality and experience at the highest level will be invaluable for us. But just as importantly, he is an exceptional person.”
Özek added that Kante will take an active role in the club’s ‘One Percent Project’, a social responsibility initiative supporting children with disabilities, describing the midfielder as a natural fit for a program rooted in inclusion and example.
Few midfielders of his generation can match Kante’s resume. He was a central figure in Leicester City’s improbable 2015-16 Premier League title, anchoring a team that defied expectations and reshaped English football’s competitive narrative.
A move to Chelsea followed, bringing further league titles, European honors and individual recognition.
On the international stage, Kante played a pivotal role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, embodying the balance, energy and tactical intelligence that defined the team’s midfield.
Yet even as medals accumulated, Kante remained largely unchanged, a figure known for arriving at training quietly, avoiding excess and allowing performances to speak for him.
Born in Paris to Malian immigrant parents, Kante grew up in working-class suburbs and lost his father at the age of 11.
From a young age, he helped support his family, experiences that instilled a sense of responsibility and self-discipline that would later define his professional life.
His rise through the French leagues was gradual, built on work ethic rather than physical dominance or early acclaim.
Coaches and teammates consistently pointed to his focus, humility and relentless consistency, traits that later translated seamlessly to football’s highest levels.
Kante’s move to Fenerbahçe also carries a personal significance.
During his years in Paris, he developed a close relationship with Turkish dentist Gökhan Çağrıcı and his family, frequently visiting their home and forming a bond that extended beyond football.
He affectionately refers to Çağrıcı’s mother as “Hatun Anne,” a relationship he has spoken about as a source of comfort and grounding.
Kante has previously described his appreciation for Turkish culture, hospitality and faith, elements that now intersect naturally with his professional move to Istanbul.
Hatun Çağrıcı welcomed the transfer, describing Kante as humble, respectful and sincere, a reflection of the image that has followed him throughout his career.
Fenerbahçe announced the signing with a brief message on social media: “Welcome to our Fenerbahçe, N’Golo Kante.” The simplicity of the statement mirrored the nature of the player himself.
At 34, Kante does not arrive in Istanbul seeking reinvention or redemption.
He arrives as a proven figure, a stabilizing presence, a reference point for younger players, and a reminder that excellence does not require noise.
