N’Golo Kanté has completed a move from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, sealing a transfer that will see the veteran defensive midfielder swap Jeddah for Istanbul. The deal was finalised on 2026-02-03, with the France- and Mali-qualified midfielder leaving Al-Ittihad to join the Süper Lig contenders. According to the registration details, his contract at Fenerbahçe runs until 2026-02-03, confirming that the move is a short-term commitment rather than a long multi-year agreement.
The switch comes with Kanté currently valued at €4.50m on the transfer market, although the official transfer fee between Al-Ittihad and Fenerbahçe has not been disclosed and is listed as unknown. What is clear from the transaction data is that this is a completed, standard transfer rather than a loan or free signing, ending his stint in Saudi Arabia and ensuring he will compete in Türkiye’s top flight for the 2025-26 campaign.
Kanté arrives in Istanbul as a defensive midfield specialist, adding experience and positional discipline to Fenerbahçe’s squad. Registered primarily as a holding midfielder, he is expected to anchor the centre of the pitch in the Süper Lig, a league he has not previously played in. This move extends a career that has already taken him through Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 in France, the Premier League in England, and most recently the Saudi Pro League.
Born in Paris and standing at 1.68 m, Kanté’s career path reflects a steady rise through European football. He progressed from JS Suresnes to US Boulogne’s reserve and first teams, then to SM Caen, before earning a move to Leicester City, where his performances in midfield significantly boosted his market value. A subsequent transfer to Chelsea FC established him as one of Europe’s premier midfielders, with his valuation at one point reaching €100m during his peak years in London. In 2023 he left Chelsea for Al-Ittihad, where his value began to decline with age but remained notable for a player in his mid-thirties.
At Al-Ittihad, Kanté represented a major marquee signing, with his value still listed at €12m shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia, gradually dropping to €4.50m by the end of 2025. The move to Fenerbahçe therefore comes at a stage where he is transitioning from peak-status star to experienced leader, yet still considered an asset capable of influencing matches at a high level. His dual national links to France and Mali underline his broad international profile, though his club career has always been rooted in European and Middle Eastern leagues rather than in his countries of eligibility.
The contractual timeline suggests that Kanté could become a free agent at the end of his Fenerbahçe deal on 2026-02-03, placing additional importance on this spell in Türkiye. A strong campaign in the Süper Lig could either convince Fenerbahçe to extend his stay or open the door to another move, potentially marking one of the final steps in a distinguished career that has spanned France, England, Saudi Arabia and now Türkiye. However it unfolds, this confirmed transfer ensures that the next chapter of N’Golo Kanté’s story will be written in Istanbul.
