N'Golo Kanté (born 29 March 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and the France national team.

[8] Kanté made his senior professional debut with Boulogne in 2012, appearing as a substitute in one Ligue 2 match, and played an entire season in the third division the following year.

Kanté made his senior international debut for France in 2016 and was included in the squad that finished runners-up at the 2016 European Championship.

Born in Paris to Malian parents,[10] Kanté began his career at the age of eight at JS Suresnes, in the western suburbs of the capital, remaining there for a decade.

According to assistant manager Pierre Ville, Kanté remained outside the radar of big teams because of his small stature and selfless styles of play.

[19] The following season, Kanté played 37 games as Caen remained in the top flight; his one absence was suspension through being sent off in a 0–1 home loss to Rennes on 30 August.

[11] Kanté was scouted for Premier League club Leicester City by Steve Walsh, who had previously facilitated the transfers of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to the team.

[30][31] Arsenal allegedly backed out of the deal due to agent fees involved which totaled more than £10 million, instead opting to sign Granit Xhaka.

[32] Due to disputes arising from the sharing of agent fees, Kanté was reported to have been subject to death threats,[33] a claim which he later denied.

[40] On 13 March 2017, Kanté was named man of the match and scored the only goal in the 51st minute, in an FA Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

[50] Kanté scored the first goal of Chelsea's 2–1 EFL Cup semi-final second leg win at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

[52] Despite not being fully fit, Kanté started the 2018–19 Europa League final and dominated Arsenal's midfield[53] as Chelsea won 4–1.

[62][63] He marked his 200th appearance in all competitions with the club 23 February 2021 as Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid 1–0 in the Champions League round of 16.

[83] On 21 June 2023, Kante agreed to sign for Saudi Professional League club Al-Ittihad on 1 July upon the expiration of his Chelsea contract.

[84] Born to Malian parents, Kanté was approached by Mali ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations having not played for France in any of their age group teams.

[100] He helped France win the 2021 Nations League, playing in the group stages but missing the semifinal and final due to contracting COVID-19.

[105] Following the round of 16 victory over Belgium, he became the player with most matches without defeat in the European competition in 12 games, breaking previous record of Xavi.

[106] After the quarter-final win over Portugal on penalties, he became the first player to reach 20 consecutive undefeated matches in major tournaments, breaking the previous record held by Xavi.

[107] A dynamic, diminutive, and disciplined player,[108][109][110] Kanté is known for his relentless energy and excellent ball-winning abilities as a defensive midfielder in the centre of the pitch.

[116] Predominantly known for his tactical awareness, intelligence, anticipation, and the defensive aspect of his game—his ability to tackle and regain possession, intercept passes, and block shots—Kanté is also capable of playmaking from inside his own half and is an efficient passer on the counter-attack, helping kick start attacking plays immediately after winning back the ball.

[124] Kanté cites Lassana Diarra[112][117] and Claude Makélélé, with whom he is often compared, as inspirations but insists he has his own style and approach towards the game,[125][126] one which is unconventional[73][127] and described as "false four",[128] "relayeur",[127] "carrilero",[129][130] and "mezzala".

[134][53] Under Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, Kanté was deployed in a more advanced midfield role—one that he previously played in at Leicester—showcasing his effectiveness in possession and ball-carrying duties.

[135] In 2021, Tuchel restored Kanté in a "double six" holding midfield role to great effect, predominantly on the right-hand side,[53] and usually partnered either by Jorginho or Mateo Kovačić.

"[53] Off the pitch, Kanté's former Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, praised his work ethic and constant willingness to improve.

[118][120] A popular Internet meme that 70% of the planet is covered by water and the rest by the Kanté twins exemplifies his standing among the fans and their recognition of his work ethic and reading of the game.

[122] At the start of his professional career at Boulogne, he commuted to training on a kick scooter and as of 2018 drove a Mini Hatch—his first purchase in England because he found it easy to learn to drive in.

[11][122] Kanté is aware of his public perception as a shy and private individual, but also said that stories about him by current and former teammates, like Jamie Vardy, were often exaggerated.

Kanté set to acquire Royal Excelsior Virton, a third-division team, from current owner Flavio Becca, with the official transfer of ownership scheduled for 1 July.