France midfielder N’Golo Kanté arrived in Istanbul late on Wednesday to finalise his move to Fenerbahce, ending his spell at Saudi club Al-Ittihad as he looks to strengthen his chances of making France’s World Cup finals squad.
The transfer had appeared in doubt earlier after administrative issues delayed the deal. Fenerbahce had initially blamed Al-Ittihad for the collapse, saying paperwork problems on the Saudi side prevented the move from going through.
The agreement was eventually resolved, allowing Kanté to complete his switch to Turkey. The deal also involved Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri moving in the opposite direction.
Kanté, who turns 35 next month, joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 and recently made his return to the French national team. He earned his 65th cap in November, featuring in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine.
Fenerbahce, who are chasing their first Turkish league title in 12 years, have been active in the transfer window. The club has also signed France international midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi, who is hoping to revive his international career ahead of the World Cup.
