French midfielder N'Golo Kante has officially joined Fenerbahce on a two-and-a-half-year contract, the Turkish club confirmed on Wednesday. The 34-year-old arrives from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, where he had been since 2023 after leaving Chelsea. His contract with Fenerbahce is set to run until June 30, 2028.
The transfer faced significant complications, initially appearing to collapse due to administrative issues. Al-Ittihad reportedly made incorrect data entries into FIFA's Transfer Matching System (TMS), which prevented the deal from being validated before the transfer window closed. Fenerbahce quickly appealed to FIFA, asserting its full compliance with regulations.
FIFA subsequently intervened, clearing the path for the transfer to proceed even after the Saudi transfer window had concluded. This intervention allowed Kante to complete his move to Europe, marking a dramatic conclusion to the transfer saga.
