Latest news with #Kante
Metro
2 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
N'Golo Kante set to sign short-term deal to play at Club World Cup
N'Golo Kante is set to sign a short-term loan deal with Al-Hilal in order to feature at the Club World Cup this summer, according to reports. The Premier League icon, who won top-flight titles with Leicester City and Chelsea, has been playing for Al-Ittihad since leaving Stamford Bridge. Kante swapped the west London side for Al-Ittihad in August 2023, joining as a free agent, and helped them win the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League title. But Al-Hilal are the only Saudi team in action at the revamped 2025 Club World Cup and Kante looks set to join them on loan for the tournament. Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, both controlled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), are in talks over a deal with optimism that a loan can be done. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. That's according to The Athletic, meaning Kante could be set to feature against Real Madrid and RB Salzburg in the United States this month. Al-Hilal are in Group H with both European teams as well as Mexican side Pachuca at the expanded 32-team competition. Al-Hilal's qualification for the new-look Club World Cup was secured by their triumph in the 2021 AFC Champions League. They finished second in the Saudi Pro League in 2024-25, eight points behind champions Al-Ittihad. Kante remains incredibly popular with fans of English teams Leicester and Chelsea, with the latter side also at the Club World Cup this summer. Chelsea are in Group D at the Club World Cup with Flamengo of Brazil, Los Angeles FC of the USA and ES Tunis of Tunisia. Kante helped Chelsea win the Club World Cup under the old format of the tournament back in 2021 – which only featured a total of seven teams. He also won the Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League and Super Cup during his seven-year spell with Chelsea. The defensive midfielder was named Chelsea Players' Player of the Year in 2017 and Chelsea Player of the Year in 2018. Kante played a total of 269 games for Chelsea, joining them after he helped Leicester secure the Premier League trophy at odds of 5000-1. The 34-year-old also enjoyed success on the international stage with France, who landed the World Cup trophy in 2018. Kante was linked with a shock return to the Premier League 12 months ago with West Ham in talks with Al-Ittihad – but a move never materialised. 'I will always come short of good things to say about N'Golo,' Cesc Fabregas said about Kante last year. 'When he first came to Chelsea after winning the league with Leicester, tactically he was good but we saw him more as a corrector. 'But the most important thing and most special thing about him is the will to learn and the capacity to do it very fast and apply it on the pitch.' MORE: Leroy Sane sends message to Bayern Munich over Arsenal transfer MORE: Arsenal interested in sensational £70m swoop for Man Utd star to rival Chelsea MORE: Why Benjamin Sesko isn't playing for Slovenia tonight after Arsenal transfer links
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
N'Golo Kante ‘set for shock transfer to compete in Club World Cup where he'll link up with former Chelsea team-mate'
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. He will team up with four ex-Prem stars WAY TO N'GO WAY TO N'GO N'Golo Kante 'set for shock transfer to compete in Club World Cup where he'll link up with former Chelsea team-mate' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) N'GOLO KANTE is set to complete a shock move that will see him play in the Club World Cup, according to reports. The revamped 32-team tournament gets underway on June 15 in the United States. 1 N'Golo Kante will be loaned from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal Credit: Getty Kante, 34, currently plays for Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad. But The Athletic claim he is going to be loaned to fellow Saudi giants Al-Hilal. The French midfielder will agree a short-team contract that lasts as long as the Club World Cup. Both teams are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), meaning the deal should be straightforward. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL MIC SWAP Carrick takes up new offer alongside Man Utd icon O'Shea just days after Boro axe They also own Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Premier League side Newcastle. Al-Hilal are the only Saudi representative in the Club World Cup. They are in Group H with Real Madrid, RB Salzburg and Pachuca. The switch will see Kante link up with former Chelsea team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Former Premier League stars Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Aleksandar Mitrovic also play for Al-Hilal. It comes after the club pushed hard to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Dazn unveil brilliant Club World Cup promo video with legendary boxing announcer drafted in to ring bell on tournament The Portuguese playmaker was offered a three-year tax-free contract worth £200million. But Fernandes opted to turn it down as he wants to remain playing at the top level in Europe. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
N'Golo Kante ‘set for shock transfer to compete in Club World Cup where he'll link up with former Chelsea team-mate'
N'GOLO KANTE is set to complete a shock move that will see him play in the Club World Cup, according to reports. The revamped 32-team tournament gets underway on June 15 in the United States. 1 Kante, 34, currently plays for Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad. But The Athletic claim he is going to be loaned to fellow Saudi giants Al-Hilal. The French midfielder will agree a short-team contract that lasts as long as the Club World Cup. Both teams are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), meaning the deal should be straightforward. They also own Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Premier League side Newcastle. Al-Hilal are the only Saudi representative in the Club World Cup. They are in Group H with Real Madrid, RB Salzburg and Pachuca. The switch will see Kante link up with former Chelsea team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Former Premier League stars Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Aleksandar Mitrovic also play for Al-Hilal. It comes after the club pushed hard to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese playmaker was offered a three-year tax-free contract worth £200million. But Fernandes opted to turn it down as he wants to remain playing at the top level in Europe. Club World Cup 2025 Guide SOME of the world's biggest clubs are heading Stateside for a MAMMOTH Club World Cup. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane will be showing their skills to packed crowds across the US. Los Blancos are favourites to lift the trophy in New York but will face stiff competition from around the globe. Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 on DAZN Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament... INFO Everything you need to know ahead of the Club World Cup Club World Cup draw in FULL LATEST NEWS & FEATURES
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
N'Golo Kante 'set for shock short-term loan move' ahead of the Club World Cup - with France star 'to be reunited' with former Chelsea team-mate
Saudi giants Al-Hilal are in talks to sign N'Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad on a short-term loan deal ahead of the Club World Cup, according to reports. The new tournament kicks off in the United States on Sunday June 15, with Al Ahly taking on Inter Miami in the tournament's opening match. In total, 32 teams will take part from all over the globe, including Manchester City and Chelsea from England as well as the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern Munich. Another one of those teams involved is Al-Hilal, who are the only side from the Saudi Pro League who will be competing in the competition. Ahead of the tournament starting on Sunday, a number of clubs are scrambling to get deals over the line and the Saudi giants are no different. According to The Athletic, Al-Hilal are pushing to sign Kante from rivals Al-Ittihad on a short-term loan deal in order to have him available for the competition. The outlet claim that, while an agreement is yet to be reached, there is optimism that a deal can be struck. Should he complete the switch, Kante would be reunited with former Chelsea team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly - who also made the move to Saudi Arabia back in 2023. Both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad are controlled by Saudi's Public Investment Fund - who also Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli. The 34-year-old has spent two years in the Saudi Pro League after completing a move from Chelsea back in 2023. Since making that move, the midfielder has made 81 appearances and scored eight goals - helping them lift the SPL title in the most recent campaign. Along with Al-Hilal, a number of teams in the competition are vying to get their deals done however, for one of them, that will not be the case. On Tuesday morning, Chelsea saw their move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan fall through after the two clubs failed to reach an agreement on the fee. The Blues had stepped up their interest in the Frenchman in recent days and hoped to complete a deal before the transfer window closes ahead of the Club World Cup. But Enzo Maresca 's side were unwilling to pay Milan's fee, which they believe was inflated due to their will to sign him in time for the competition. It is understood that Milan want around £20m for Maignan, who has one year remaining on his contract at San Siro. A deal between AC Milan and the Conference League winners is now off, according to Fabrizio Romano, who cited Chelsea's frustration at a 'Club World Cup tax'. A special transfer window, which allows clubs to complete deals before the tournament kicks off on Saturday, ends on Tuesday before reopening next week.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Al Hilal in talks to sign N'Golo Kante from Al Ittihad on short-term loan deal for Club World Cup
Al Hilal are in talks to sign N'Golo Kante on a short-term loan deal from fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for the Club World Cup. An agreement has not yet been reached but there is optimism that a deal can be done. Al Hilal and Al Ittihad are controlled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which took control of both clubs, as well as Al Nassr and Al Ahli ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window. Advertisement Al Hilal are the only Saudi Arabian side at the expanded Club World Cup in the United States this summer, having qualified as the winners of the 2021 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. Former Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi was confirmed as their new head coach last week, while their squad contains several former stars of European football including Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Kante's former Chelsea team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly. Kante, 34, joined Al Ittihad on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023. He has played 81 times for them and was part of the SPL title-winning team this past season, finishing eight points clear of second-placed Al Hilal. The Frenchman joined Chelsea from Leicester City for £30million in the summer of 2016, having just played a large role in the East Midlands club winning their first-ever Premier League title. In his seven years at Chelsea, Kante was recognised as one of the best midfielders in the world and won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the club, making 269 appearances. Al Hilal begin their Club World Cup campaign against Real Madrid on June 18, before facing Red Bull Salzburg on June 22 and Pachuca on June 26. ()
