Fenerbahce sign Kante with Erdogan's backing: Behind the scenes of the sensational deal
In a remarkable development in the summer transfer market, Saad Eddin Saran, president of Turkish club Fenerbahce, sent a message of thanks and gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appreciating his pivotal role in completing the signing of French star N'Golo Kante, midfielder of Saudi club Al-Ittihad, in a deal that has preoccupied sports circles in recent hours.
Behind the scenes of the technical crisis and the presidential solution
The deal took a dramatic turn in its final hours, with the Turkish club having previously announced the failure of negotiations and the collapse of the transfer due to a procedural error by Al-Ittihad in entering the player's data into FIFA's Transfer Matching System (TMS). This stringent system does not tolerate any delays or errors in data after the transfer window closes, leaving the Turkish club in a precarious situation.
However, hopes were revived again after high-level interventions, as the club later announced the successful registration of the player officially, coinciding with the announcement of the departure of the team’s striker, Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri, to the ranks of Al-Ittihad Saudi, indicating that there are broad understandings between the two clubs to ensure the interest of all parties.
Kante's importance to the Turkish league
The signing of N'Golo Kanté is a huge boost not only for Fenerbahçe but for the Turkish Süper Lig as a whole. Kanté boasts an illustrious career, most notably winning the World Cup with France in 2018, the Premier League title with both Leicester City and Chelsea, and the Champions League. Having a player with his experience and defensive capabilities in midfield will significantly enhance Fenerbahçe's chances in both domestic and European competitions.
Message from the administration and the fans
In an official statement published on the club's website, the Fenerbahçe president said: "On behalf of myself and the club, I extend my deepest gratitude to the President of the Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his significant support, which contributed to the successful completion of the Kanté transfer, a move that will benefit the club and Turkish football." The statement emphasized that this support reflects the state's commitment to developing the sports sector and enhancing the global competitiveness of Turkish clubs.
Saran concluded his remarks by giving a special greeting to the fans, saying: “It is worth mentioning that the sincere faith of Fenerbahçe fans, their strong support, and their great confidence in us have been our inspiration and strength throughout this process. Now it is time to show this strength on the pitch and support our team with all our might. Together we will believe, together we will fight, and together we will achieve success.”.
