Shock twist in the transfer market: N’Golo Kanté’s move to Fenerbahçe was canceled at the very last minute despite a full agreement between the clubs. The player has not taken it well and is still pushing to leave.
N’Golo Kanté to Fenerbahçe is off. An administrative error on the Saudi side caused the deal to collapse, triggering anger in Turkey and huge frustration for the player, who was aiming for a return to a more visible league ahead of the World Cup.
A €5 million agreement was in place between Fenerbahçe and Al-Ittihad, and everything was ready to finalize the French midfielder’s arrival. The medical was completed, documents were sent, and internal approval was granted: the Turkish club says it met every deadline.
Administrative Error Blocks Completed Transfer
The blockage came from an incorrect entry in FIFA’s TMS system by the Saudi club, preventing the official registration of the transfer before the deadline. Despite a request for an extension and discussions with FIFA, the transaction could not be validated.
Direct consequence: the transfer is canceled, the case is closed, and Kanté remains in Saudi Arabia unless a highly unlikely reversal occurs. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, tensions have risen further, with Kanté reportedly refusing to train on Tuesday to force a move.
But with the Saudi transfer window closed, Al-Ittihad would be unable to sign a replacement if he were sold — a major sporting risk after other key departures. A cruel transfer window, undone by a fatal bug.
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