France midfielder N’Golo Kanté has completed a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce from Saudi club Al-Ittihad, with the Istanbul-based side crediting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for playing a key role in sealing the deal.
Fenerbahce had earlier lined up Kanté for a move to Istanbul, but administrative issues stalled the transfer and raised doubts over its completion. The club, however, revived the deal and successfully finalised it this week, ending weeks of uncertainty around the World Cup winner’s future.
Although Fenerbahce have not disclosed the duration of Kanté’s contract, the move gives the 34-year-old midfielder, who turns 35 next month, a fresh opportunity to remain at the highest level and push for a place in France’s squad for the next World Cup. Kanté boasts an impressive résumé, having won the Premier League twice with Leicester City in 2016 and Chelsea in 2017.
Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran confirmed the signing and openly acknowledged the role of President Erdogan, who was in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for his first visit to the country in over two years. Saran described Kanté as a major addition to the club and praised Erdogan’s intervention for helping to bring the transfer to a successful conclusion, stressing that the deal would boost both Fenerbahce and Turkish football.
The 19-time Turkish champions have remained active in the winter transfer window, also snapping up France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi. Fenerbahce currently sit three points behind rivals Galatasaray in a heated title race and will turn their attention to Europe later this month when they face English side Nottingham Forest in the Europa League knockout play-off round.
