Kanté's move to the Turkish Super League with Fenerbahçe brings him earnings of €11 million annually plus a signing bonus of €14.4 million.

Kanté is indeed a football great, with victories including the World Cup, Champions League, two Premier League championships, the Club World Cup, Europa League, and FA Cup. After switching to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad Jeddah and winning both the league and cup there, the 34-year-old has now returned to a top European league by signing with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. This season, he can still compete in the Europa League, maintaining peak form for the 2026 World Cup in North America, while also enjoying substantial earnings.

While playing in the Saudi Pro League, Kanté earned a tax-free salary of €25 million per year. Now back in Europe, his income remains impressive. According to public information from Fenerbahçe, Kanté received a €14.4 million signing bonus upon joining, will earn €5.5 million for the remainder of this season, and will have an annual salary of €11 million for the next two seasons (2026-27 and 2027-28). This means that by fulfilling his contract with Fenerbahçe, Kanté will earn at least €41.9 million.

This transfer move by Kanté is absolutely brilliant: playing in the Turkish league and Europa League to maintain and boost form ahead of the World Cup, combined with such a high signing bonus and salary, makes it a perfect deal.