N’Golo Kante set to sign for European giant in boost to World Cup hopes

N’Golo Kante is set to join Fenerbahce in a £3.4million, talkSPORT understands.

The Turkish giants have made an initial approach to his current club, Al Ittihad earlier this window.

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Kante‘s Al Ittihad contract expires in the summer and the midfielder hasn’t agreed an extension with the Saudi Pro League side.

Al Ittihad were open to allowing the 34-year-old to leave and it now looks like the World Cup winner will join Fenerbahce imminently with a deal being agreed between the two clubs.

A departure would open the door for a new high-profile signing to arrive during the current window, although time is ticking away with the deadline on Monday.

The club currently have all nine of their over-21 foreign player slots filled, with Kante leaving allowing Al Ittihad to register a new arrival.

Kante joined Al Ittihad in 2023 on a three-year deal, leaving the Premier League after spells with Leicester and Chelsea.

He was part of the side which won a league and cup double in Saudi Arabia last season.

So far this term, Kante has made 21 appearances across all competitions, scoring once.

However, Al Ittihad currently find themselves 12 points adrift of league leaders Al Hilal in sixth place.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce currently sit second in the Turkish Super Lig, three points behind bitter rivals Galatasaray.

Kante’s World Cup hopes

A move could boost Kante’s hopes of making France’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.

He made just a single appearance for Les Bleus in 2025, featuring against Ukraine in November.

That appearance was his 65th international cap, with Kante scoring twice for his country.

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However, he missed the last World Cup in Qatar due to a hamstring injury amid a two-year national team hiatus.

Kante was part of Didier Deschamps’ squad for Euro 2024 as well as previously winning the 2018 World Cup.

He was snubbed for the Nations League Finals last year as well as the first four World Cup qualifiers in September and October.

France are set to return to action in March with a pair of friendlies in the USA.

They will take on South American duo Brazil and Colombia in preparation for the tournament.

The group stage will then see France face Senegal and Norway as well as the winner of the play-off path involving Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.

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