Rabat – Fenerbahce announced on Tuesday that the transfer deal involving Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri and French midfielder N’Golo Kante had collapsed due to administrative errors from Al-Ittihad.
The Turkish club confirmed in an official statement that they had completed all required steps, including medical tests, official approvals, and uploading the necessary documents into FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS) within the deadline.
According to Fenerbahce, the problem arose when Al-Ittihad entered incorrect information into the system, which blocked the process from being finalized.
The Turkish side requested an extension and contacted FIFA to resolve the issue, but Al-Ittihad failed to complete the procedure and did not provide any explanation. As a result, the swap deal fell apart.
The plan had been for En-Nesyri to move to Saudi Arabia while Kante joined Fenerbahce, a move requested by the Turkish club’s coaching staff.
Negotiations with both players had been successful, and the medicals were cleared, but the administrative mistake proved decisive.
With the deal now off, En-Nesyri will remain with Fenerbahce and continue his season in Turkey.
The failed transfer is a setback for Al-Ittihad, who had hoped to strengthen their attack with the Moroccan international to replace the departure of Karim Benzema, who moved to Al Hilal in a surprising transfer.
It also raises questions about the club’s handling of paperwork in high-profile deals, especially given the strict deadlines imposed by FIFA’s system.
En-Nesyri, who joined Fenerbahce last year, has been an important figure in their attack, scoring 38 goals since joining the club, while Kante remains a key presence in Al-Ittihad’s midfield.
The collapse of this exchange means both clubs will have to adjust their plans for the remainder of the season.
