US EditionFrench Footballer Kanté to Join Turkish Club After Erdogan Intervenes to Push Transfer
President Erdogan's intervention led to a €4 million transfer fee and Kanté accepting a €8 million annual salary, down from €24.25 million at Al-Ittihad, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intervened during his state visit in Riyadh to help finalise N'Golo Kanté's transfer from Al-Ittihad to Fenerbahçe, which the club confirmed on Wednesday.
- Turkish media reported the request reached Erdogan in Riyadh on Tuesday after a member of Fenerbahçe's Board of Directors contacted Erdogan's delegation.
- A late-night Sky Sport report said the clubs agreed on a four million euro fee, with administrative errors by the Saudi club initially blocking the deal before Al-Ittihad confirmed the sale involving Youssef En-Nesyri.
- Kanté will earn a net annual salary of 8 million euros at Fenerbahçe, notably lower than his Al-Ittihad pay, and Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Saran said it will aid the club's development as they chase their first league title in 12 years.
- Erdogan's known support for Fenerbahçe made the intervention striking as N'Golo Kanté, 34, refused to train on Tuesday, and Fenerbahçe's X account posted `Some stories take time, but they never end. Welcome to Fenerbahçe, N'Golo Kanté`.
25 Articles
25 Articles
N'Golo Kante says goodbye to Saudi Arabia and will be playing in Turkey in the future. What sounds simple was a big act of strength for all the football clubs involved. In the transfer crime, even President Erdogan gets a role.
The transfer of N-Golo Kanté to Fenerbahçe was finally unlocked thanks to an intervention at the highest level of the Turkish State.
FIFA then gave its approval to the transfer of the mid-centre recuperator, which should land on Wednesday night in Istanbul.
ISTANBUL (AP) — Fenerbahce completed the signing of French World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté after his move to the Turkish club was delayed by administrative issues. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Fenerbahce President Sadettin Saran thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday “for the significant support he provided in ensuring the successful completion of this process.” Kanté joins from Al Ittihad of the Saudi Arabian Pro…
French international N'Golo Kante will now play for Turkish side Fenerbahce. The 34-year-old Frenchman played for Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad before moving to Turkey, but his best football performances came in England, when he played for Leicester and Chelsea, the German news agency dpa reported.
The 2018 World Champion will leave the Saudi club of Al-Ittihad, where he has been playing for more than two seasons, to join the Istanbul team.
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