Fenerbahçe have officially announced the signing of French international N’Golo Kanté.

The 34-year-old midfielder joined Al-Ittihad on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023. During his two and a half years with the Saudi club, Kanté made 105 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists. He also helped the team win one Saudi Pro League title and one King’s Cup.

Previously, Kanté’s move to Fenerbahçe failed due to Al-Ittihad’s inability to complete the necessary paperwork on two occasions. According to media reports, Kanté later expressed his protest by refusing to train, in an effort to push through the transfer.

After that, Fenerbahçe and Al-Ittihad reopened negotiations over Kanté’s transfer. Eventually, Al-Ittihad and Kanté reached a contract termination agreement, allowing him to join Fenerbahçe as a free agent.

Earlier, renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Kanté would sign a two-and-a-half-year contract with Fenerbahçe.