N’Golo Kante might end up staying at Al-Ittihad after all, with new issues reported around his move.
Chelsea were looking to add a midfielder in January but dropped those plans after missing out on Douglas Luiz. Instead, they stuck with what they had for the rest of the season.
Kante’s name came up as a possible loan target, though nothing ever got off the ground.
Instead of moving on loan, Kante was set to join Fenerbahce permanently. But that deal has yet to be completed, and now it looks like he may not go there after all.
Why N’Golo Kante thought his transfer would be approved
At 34, it’s no surprise that Kante preferred a permanent move rather than a short-term return to Stamford Bridge. But his switch to Fenerbahce still hasn’t been finalised.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the deal is now off, with FIFA rejecting both clubs’ appeals.
The move had been verbally agreed, but paperwork issues prevented it from being completed in time.
Kante even submitted a petition before the decision was made, but it didn’t change the outcome.
Kante’s situation now very uncertain after failed move
Even in a window filled with dramatic moves, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported strike over Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, this situation stands out.
It’s too early to know what comes next for Kante, but his hopes of making France’s squad for Euro 2026 now look even slimmer. Returning to Europe was supposed to help him stay in the mix for international selection.
There was a time when a Chelsea return would have felt like the perfect homecoming. But under Liam Rosenior, the focus is clearly on building around younger players, and there aren’t plans to change that approach.
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