Fenerbahce have accused Al-Ittihad of responsibility for the failed transfer of France midfielder N’Golo Kante. The Turkish club insist the collapse was beyond their control.
They said they had fulfilled every requirement tied to the move. The deal also involved Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri heading in the opposite direction.
According to Fenerbahce, agreements had “been reached with the players” involved in the transaction. They added that “the medical examinations of the player” had already been completed.
The club stressed they had met their “obligations completely and on time” throughout the process, and confidence remained high until the final stages of registration.
However, problems emerged during the final submission window. Fenerbahce claim “the opposing club’s incorrect entry of the relevant Transfer Matching System information” caused fatal delays.
As a result, “the transactions could not be completed within the transfer registration period, independently of our club.” That setback ultimately proved decisive.
Why Kante deal collapsed despite advanced agreements
Fenerbahce said they immediately sought solutions to salvage the move, as they claimed they requested extra time and opened talks with football’s governing body.
The club confirmed “all steps were taken to resolve the issue”, including discussions with Fifa. Despite efforts, progress stalled.
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They added, “the opposing club has not completed the transactions without providing any justification to us.” That lack of response deepened frustration.
Consequently, “the transfer process unfortunately could not be finalised.” The failed deal unfolded as Karim Benzema left Al-Ittihad for Saudi rivals Al-Hilal. En-Nesyri had been lined up as a potential replacement.
Kante, now 34, joined Al-Ittihad from Chelsea in 2023. His career includes Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League triumphs. He also starred in Leicester City’s remarkable 2015-16 Premier League title win. The failed move now leaves his immediate future unresolved.
Tags: N’Golo Kante, Fenerbahce, Al-Ittihad, TMS errors, Youssef En-Nesyri, Transfer Matching System, Karim Benzema.
