N'Golo Kante set to depart Chelsea for Al-Ittihad

N'Golo Kante, the midfielder and stalwart of Chelsea, is due to depart the club and join Saudi Professional League outfit, Al-Ittihad, upon the expiration of his contract.

During his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge, Kante, 32, proved instrumental in securing multiple accolades, including the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley commended the French international: "N'Golo's impact and influence during his time at Chelsea cannot be overstated. His tireless performances in midfield contributed to several trophy wins and has guaranteed him a place in the club's history. We wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter in his career."

Kante arrived at Chelsea in 2016 from Leicester City, where he had played a pivotal role in their Premier League title win.

His immediate impact in the Chelsea midfield was crucial to Antonio Conte's team clinching another league title.

His dominant performance during the 2016/17 campaign earned him PFA Player of the Year, Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, and the Premier League Player of the Season.

In the following season, Kante was voted Chelsea Player of the Year by supporters.

Over the years, Kante's game has evolved, and he took on a more advanced role during Chelsea's victorious 2019 Europa League campaign.

An injury-riddled 2019/20 season was followed by a triumphant one, where Chelsea emerged as European champions for the second time.

Kante's performances in the knockout stages won him player-of-the-match awards against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and in the final against Manchester City.

In his move to Al-Ittihad, Kante will reunite with his French teammate, Karim Benzema. Benzema joined Al-Ittihad earlier on 6 June 2023, also on a free transfer.