Al-Ittihad formalizes the signing of N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), who joins Karim Benzema at the Saudi club

Kanté and Al-Ittihad had been in agreement since the beginning of June. The Saudi club gave the former Caennais, whose season was hampered by injuries at Chelsea, medical examinations before signing him. All the media announces a three-year contract for the French midfielder. The Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano evokes for his part a four-year lease, until 2027, with an annual salary of 25 million euros.

Kanté thus leaves the Premier League after eight successful seasons. He had been crowned champion in his first year in England under the colors of Leicester, a club he had joined from Caen in the summer of 2015, for an estimated amount of 9 million euros. Transferred to Chelsea the following season, he once again won the league title with the Blues in 2017, before contributing to the London club’s victory in the Champions League in 2021.

The transfer of Kanté confirms the very clear rise of Saudi Arabia as a major player on the transfer market since the beginning of the year. It comes after that of Cristiano Ronaldo last winter at Al-Nassr, and therefore that of Benzema at Al-Ittihad. Others are expected. Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech, Kanté’s teammates at Chelsea this season, are particularly coveted. Like the 2018 world champion, they could be seduced by the fabulous contracts from Saudi clubs.