Chelsea and France midfield maestro N’Golo Kante has reached an agreement to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad.
The 32-year-old’s contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire at the end of June.
Kante, who has battled with injuries, had a limited outing for Chelsea during the 2022-23 season, making only nine appearances. He will now team up with compatriot Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad, as the fellow Frenchman recently departed Real Madrid to embark on a three-year adventure with the Saudi club.
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This move brings an end to a remarkably successful period for Kante in English football. After playing a pivotal role in Leicester City’s historic Premier League triumph in the 2015-16 campaign, he made the switch to Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge, Kante added the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup to his trophy cabinet.
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In recognition of his outstanding performances, he was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year in the 2016-17 season. Kante’s influence was also vital in France’s World Cup victory in 2018.
Kante has penned a lucrative three-year contract with Al-Ittihad, reportedly worth £86m. His arrival in Saudi Arabia will see him join forces with Benzema and five-time Ballon d’Or recipient Cristiano Ronaldo.
Many high-profile players have been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia’s top clubs.