Following Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante Enlivens Saudi Arabian League By Joining Al-Ittihad

N'golo Kante chose to join Al-Ittihad. (Photo: Twitter/@ittihad_en)

JAKARTA - French national team midfielder N'Golo Kante officially left Chelsea. He joined the Saudi Arabian League champions, Al-Ittihad.

Kante was tied to a contract for three years. However, Al-Ittihad did not specify how much the contract value the player signed.

"Kante's arrival to Al-Ittihad is one of the great players and has an impact in the club's history. This is part of the club's efforts to build itself up because the team is preparing for an international tournament, namely the inter-club World Cup, which will be held at the end of this year," said an official statement from Al-Ittihad.

Kanté is wearing the yellow jersey!📦 to 📦#WelcomeBox2Box pic.twitter.com/swt8eVdM81

— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) June 20, 2023

Kantre is wearing the yellow jersey! to WelcomeBox pic.twitter.com/swt8eVdM81

Kante actually almost signed a new contract with the Blues earlier this season. But he decided to join Karim Benzema, who had already moved to the Jeddah-based team.

Benzema moved to Al-Ittihad after agreeing to terminate his contract at Real Madrid more quickly.

Kante, who missed most of the 2022/2023 season due to injury, moved to Stamford Bridge in 2016, after winning the English Premier League title with Leicester the previous season.

He helped Chelsea become the domestic champion in his first season, becoming the first French player to win the Premier League title in a row since Eric Cantona in 1993.

Since then, Kante has won the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup into his trody collection.

Now he is a world star player who will color the Saudi Arabian League. Before Kante and Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo was already present as an Al-Nassr player after leaving Manchester United last January.