N’Golo Kante, who won the Premier League in back-to-back seasons for Leicester City and Chelsea, could reportedly be set for a move back to a Champions League-competing club in Europe this summer after the midfielder’s Saudi Pro League employers, Al Ittihad, have opened the door for a potential departure.
A World Cup winner with France, the 34-year-old followed in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Co by moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, having left Chelsea for Al Ittihad. But his big-money adventure looks to be coming to an end.
Kante is reportedly not going to be retained by the Saudi Pro League club – who also employ Karim Benzema, Fabinho and Moussa Diaby – and a number of would-be buyers are already showing concrete interest in the seasoned professional's very capable services.
Interest Circling Round Kante’s Signature Amid Potential Summer Move
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Although Kante has shone under his compatriot Laurent Blanc at Al Ittihad, off-the-pitch tensions arose as he was earning considerably less money than those who were being signed by the club. Much to his dismay, he was reportedly offered reduced wages on a new, two-year extension. He turned it down.
According to well-known French publication L’Equipe, among those that have paid an interest in signing the engine room destroyer, widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive midfielders in the history of football, are AS Monaco and Paris FC, both of whom ply their trade in France’s top division Ligue 1.
Joining the former would represent a link-up with compatriot Paul Pogba, while the latter would allow him to move back near to his birthplace of Paris. Stephane Gilli’s Paris FC are yet to win a league game this season, while Adi Hutter’s Monaco have three points after winning once and losing the other.
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The report also claims that Saudi Arabian club Al Qasidah are also in the running for Kante’s signature; though, the midfielder himself would favour a move back to his homeland given that he is now entering the swansong of his trophy-laden career.
Incredibly, in the summer of 2024, GIVEMESPORT sources revealed that West Ham United were among Kante’s potential suitors. The east Londoners, upon learning of the Frenchman’s desire to return to England’s top flight, were boosted in their hopes – but a deal, of course, never came to fruition.
As he nears the end of his spell in the Middle East, Kante has played 80 times for his current employers since his switch two years ago. In that time, he’s racked up eight goals and 10 assists, while he also got a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ France squad. He played in every Les Bleus match at Euro 2024.
A 64-cap France international, Paris-born Kante rose to superstardom at the King Power Stadium. Alongside the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, the quietly brilliant midfielder played a key role in the Foxes’ unforeseen domestic triumph before moving to Stamford Bridge.
Following his move to the English capital, the accolades continued to pour in as he won the Premier League for the Blues at the first time of asking in 2016/17. He also won the Europa League, FA Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup throughout his 269-outing career with the west Londoners.