N’Golo Kante, the talented French footballer, has made a surprising transfer to Saudi Arabian soccer club Al-Ittihad, joining fellow compatriot Karim Benzema. Kante’s move from Chelsea to Al-Ittihad, on a lucrative three-year contract, is expected to earn him a staggering sum of over $100 million.
The Jeddah-based club, led by former Tottenham and Wolverhampton manager Nuno Espirito Santo, has been grabbing attention by acquiring high-profile players.
Al-Ittihad enthusiastically welcomed Kante, a 32-year-old midfielder, with a series of tweets using the hashtag “WelcomeBox2Box,” which pays homage to his energetic playing style. Kante boasts an impressive track record, having won the 2018 World Cup with France and the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2021.
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He is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s finest players, having secured consecutive titles with Leicester City and Chelsea. However, injuries have hindered his performance over the past couple of seasons.
The signing of Kante underscores Al-Ittihad’s ambition to establish itself as a premier destination for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League.
The club recently clinched the Saudi league title, surpassing Al-Nassr, the team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, thereby showcasing its growing prominence in Saudi Arabian football.
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The allure of the Saudi league has been further enhanced by substantial investments from the kingdom’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund, which now holds a majority ownership stake in four top clubs, including Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr.
This strategic move aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s nationalization project, which encourages public sector organizations to invest in sports, with football being a top priority.
Consequently, several notable players, including Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Wolverhampton midfielder Ruben Neves, have been linked with potential moves to Saudi Arabia during the European offseason.
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Despite being in the later stages of their careers, the Saudi league’s increased financial muscle and ambitious vision make it an intriguing option for these players.
