N’Golo Kanté poised to seal £86m-a-year move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad

N’Golo Kanté’s move to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad is close to being announced after the midfielder completed his medical in London. The France international, whose contract at Chelsea expires this month, has agreed a deal to 2025 worth €100m (£86m) a season with an option for a further year.

Al-Ittihad signed Karim Benzema from Real Madrid on Tuesday and are one of four Saudi clubs in which the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 80% of Newcastle United, acquired 75% stakes this week. Al-Ittihad sent a delegation to London to speak to Kanté on Tuesday and persuaded him to join.

Kanté was close to signing a contract extension with Chelsea this year but the deal was not finalised. The 32-year-old has struggled with injuries and made nine appearances this season.

The money being paid to Kanté includes image rights, commercial deals and an investment portfolio. It is about half the salary earned by Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr last December.