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Istanbul club Fenerbahce confirmed that the transfer of French star N’Golo Kante collapsed due to paperwork delays by the Saudi side Al-Ittihad, despite reaching an agreement with the player and completing all formalities on the Turkish club’s side.
The deal also involved the transfer of Fenerbahce’s Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri to Al-Ittihad, with an additional fee to be paid to the Turkish club as part of the arrangement.
According to the Istanbul-based club, Fenerbahce fulfilled all of its responsibilities for the transfer in a timely and complete manner.
The player had reportedly agreed to personal terms, passed his medical examination, and received all required approvals. Fenerbahce stated that the necessary documents were uploaded to the registration system accurately and within the official deadline.
However, the process ultimately stalled due to errors by Al-Ittihad in entering the relevant TMS (Transfer Matching System) data. The Turkish club emphasized that the transfer could not be finalized within the registration period due to these external issues. It added that efforts were made to resolve the situation through formal channels.
"An extension was requested, and all necessary steps were taken by our club in coordination with FIFA to resolve the issue," Fenerbahce said in a statement. "Despite these efforts, the opposing club failed to complete the process without providing any justification."
Fenerbahce's statement concluded by expressing disappointment over the failed deal and acknowledging the frustration felt by supporters.
N’Golo Kante, the 34-year-old midfielder, was one of the yellow-navy blue team’s top targets this transfer window, with talks ongoing with the Saudi club since early January.
While the Turkish side remained confident throughout the process, reports in the Turkish media indicated that Kante was eager to join the Istanbul club and was even willing to forgo the remainder of his salary at Al-Ittihad to help facilitate the move.
The reports also pointed to a lack of commitment on the part of the Saudi club, suggesting that Al-Ittihad’s reluctance may have contributed to the delays in processing key paperwork, ultimately causing the transfer to fall through.
The French midfielder’s contract with the Saudi side is set to expire in July 2026.
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