Kante-Fenerbahce, the Turks turn to FIFA and got him

N’Golo Kanté’s future was resolved. Reports suggest contacts between Al-Ittihad and Fenerbahçe had resumed to unlock the French midfielder’s transfer, as he has already agreed terms with the Turkish League side. With Turkey’s market closing today, a solution was then possible.

The complex deal, involving Youssef En-Nesyri moving to Saudi Arabia, collapsed late due to an alleged TMS data entry error by Al-Ittihad. Fenerbahçe claims the Saudis failed to submit documentation in time, prompting the Turks to petition FIFA for a conciliatory validation. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old former Chelsea star expresses deep dissatisfaction.

Having passed medicals and believing the agreement was firmly sealed, Kanté felt "blocked against his will." Consequently, he has adopted a strict stance: refusing to play for the Al-Ittihad team while awaiting an official decision, and FIFA’s intervention ultimately approved his desired move to Istanbul before the looming transfer window woul have shut.