N'Golo Kante receives £50m+ offer, ex-Chelsea and Leicester star responds

N'Golo Kanté Receives £50m+ Offer, Ex-Chelsea and Leicester Star Responds

N'Golo Kanté, the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder, has received a substantial transfer offer exceeding £50 million from Fenerbahçe as he eyes a return to European football from Al-Ittihad.

Kanté, now 34, joined Al-Ittihad on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023, signing a lucrative contract until June 2026 worth around €25 million ($29.1 million) per season.[1][3] Despite his high earnings in the Saudi Pro League, the World Cup winner is pushing for a move back to Europe to regain top form ahead of France's 2026 World Cup campaign.[1]

Fenerbahçe have accelerated talks, with Kanté agreeing to a significant salary cut of up to 80%, dropping his weekly pay to approximately $108,000–$135,000 (4–5 million euros annually, including bonuses). This concession signals his strong commitment to the Turkish giants, who view him as a perfect fit for coach Domenico Tedesco's system, bringing elite ball-winning, discipline, and experience to their reshaped midfield.[1]

Negotiations between Fenerbahçe and Al-Ittihad are ongoing, with the Saudi club holding the final say. Al-Ittihad, coached by Sergio Conceição, values Kanté's leadership but is considering options like mutual termination (with Kanté forgoing wages), a reduced transfer fee (initially around 15 million euros, potentially higher aligning with the £50m+ headline), or a loan.[1][2] Fabrizio Romano reports Kanté is "very close" to terms with Fenerbahçe after a positive meeting, though no deal is finalized yet.[2]

Kanté's response has been positive and determined, prioritizing competitive football over finances. The recent impact of teammate Matteo Guendouzi at Fenerbahçe bolsters their ambitions in domestic and European competitions. Until Al-Ittihad agrees, the transfer hangs in the balance, but momentum is building for Kanté's European comeback.[1][2]

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