N’Golo Kante, the French World Cup winner, has agreed to join Saudi Pro League winners Al Ittihad on a three-year agreement when his Chelsea contract expires this summer, the club said on Tuesday.
Kante, whose Chelsea contract expires on June 30, will join Karim Benzema at the Jeddah-based club, becoming the latest big name to move to Saudi Arabia following Cristiano Ronaldo’s January move to Al Nassr.
In a statement, Al-Ittihad stated that “the contract [with Kante] was finalized on Tuesday, June 20th, after he successfully completed his medical examinations at a specialized medical facility in Dubai.” Ittihad, who just won the Saudi Professional League, made this deal to bolster their team.
“Kante’s signing for Al-Ittihad is regarded as one of the most notable and significant transfers in the club’s history. It is a part of the club’s initiatives to become the premier option for elite players in the Saudi Professional League.
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According to sources, the 32-year-old’s contract will pay him about €86 million ($109.78 million) year.
Kante had been expected to extend his contract with Chelsea, according to a February report from ESPN. However, no agreement was reached, and the midfielder has now opted to leave Stamford Bridge after seven years.
Kante became the first player since Eric Cantona in 1993 to win back-to-back English top-flight titles with two different teams. Kante moved to West London after playing a crucial role in Leicester City’s shocking 2016 Premier League title victory.
In addition, the club won the FA Cup in 2018 and the Europa League the following year, before capturing the Champions League in 2021. Injuries limited him to nine appearances in all competitions during Chelsea’s tumultuous previous season.
Chelsea finished in 12th place in the Premier League despite spending over £600 million on new players since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the club in May. Thomas Tuchel and his replacement, Graham Potter, were both fired as managers before the conclusion of the season, with Frank Lampard serving as interim manager.
Several Chelsea players, including Christian Pulisic, Mateo Kovacic, and Mason Mount, are expected to depart this summer, following the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino as manager last month.
