N'Golo Kanté
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| N'Golo Kanté | |
| |
| Full Name | N'Golo Kanté |
| Date of Birth | 29 March 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Paris, France |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Chelsea career | 2016 – 2023 |
| Debut | 15 August 2016 |
| Games (goals) | 269 (13) |
| Other clubs | US Boulogne SM Caen Leicester City Al-Ittihad |
N'Golo Kanté is a French international midfielder who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in July 2016. Having spent seven successful years at Chelsea, he joined Al-Ittihad on free transfer in 2023.
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Before Chelsea
N’Golo Kanté began his professional career at US Boulogne in 2012, making 38 appearances and scoring 3 goals. In 2013, he joined SM Caen, where his energy and ball-winning ability helped the club win promotion to Ligue 1. In 2015, Kanté signed for Leicester City, where he played a crucial role in one of football’s greatest underdog stories, making 37 Premier League appearances and helping Leicester win the 2015–16 Premier League title.
Chelsea career
2016–17 Season
Kanté signed for Chelsea in July 2016 for a reported fee of £32 million. Under Antonio Conte, he played a key role in a 3–4–3 system that helped Chelsea dominate the league. His stamina, interceptions, and positional awareness were essential to the team’s stability in midfield. Kanté made 35 Premier League appearances, scored 1 goal, and helped the club win the Premier League title. He also received widespread individual acclaim, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Season awards.
2017–18 Season
In his second season, Kanté remained the heartbeat of Chelsea’s midfield, despite a change in system and fluctuating form. He made 34 league appearances and 48 in all competitions, anchoring the midfield in both domestic and European matches. Chelsea finished fifth in the league but went on to win the FA Cup, with Kanté starting in the 1–0 final win over Manchester United. He continued to show elite consistency in his defensive game while beginning to take on more responsibility in ball progression.
2018–19 Season
Under Maurizio Sarri, Kanté was deployed in a more advanced midfield role, with Jorginho operating as the deep-lying playmaker. While the tactical shift was debated, Kanté adapted well, contributing more in attack. He made 36 Premier League appearances, scored 4 goals, and registered several key performances in cup competitions. He played 53 matches in total and helped Chelsea win the UEFA Europa League, starting in the 4–1 final victory over Arsenal in Baku.
2019–20 Season
This season was disrupted by injuries for Kanté, which limited his consistency. Despite that, he made 22 Premier League appearances, scoring 3 goals, and featured 28 times overall under Frank Lampard. Chelsea finished fourth in the league and reached the FA Cup final, where Kanté was an unused substitute. While his minutes were more limited, his value to the team remained unquestioned when fit.
2020–21 Season
Kanté returned to full fitness and enjoyed a resurgence under new manager Thomas Tuchel, particularly in the second half of the season. He made 30 Premier League appearances and 48 in all competitions, including standout performances in the Champions League knockout rounds. He was named Man of the Match in both the semi-final legs against Real Madrid and again in the final, where Chelsea beat Manchester City 1–0. His dominant midfield displays were vital in Chelsea’s second-ever UEFA Champions League title win.
2021–22 Season
Although rotational use and minor injuries limited his consistency, Kanté still contributed in key moments. He made 26 league appearances, scored 2 goals, and appeared 42 times across all competitions. He played in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup victories, completing his sweep of major trophies with Chelsea. His experience and leadership remained crucial in high-stakes matches, including Champions League ties and cup runs.
2022–23 Season
This season marked a significant downturn in Kanté’s Chelsea career due to recurring hamstring and muscular injuries. He made just 7 league appearances and 9 total appearances across all competitions. Though he returned to action late in the season under interim manager Frank Lampard, he was unable to make a consistent impact. At the end of the campaign, Kanté’s contract expired, and he departed the club after seven seasons.
Statistics
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2016-17 | 35 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 1 |
| 2018-19 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 190 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 269 | 13 |
- Correct as of the end of the 2022-23 season
Goals
| # | Season | Date | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue |
| 1 | 2016-17 | 23 October | 2016 | Premier League | Manchester United | 4-0 | 4-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 2 | 2016-17 | 13 March | 2017 | FA Cup | Manchester United | 1-0 | 1-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 3 | 2017-18 | 9 September | 2017 | Premier League | Leicester City | 2-0 | 2-1 | King Power Stadium |
| 4 | 2018-19 | 11 August | 2018 | Premier League | Huddersfield Town | 1-0 | 3-0 | Kirklees Stadium |
| 5 | 2018-19 | 08 December | 2018 | Premier League | Manchester City | 1-0 | 2-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 6 | 2018-19 | 30 December | 2018 | Premier League | Crystal Palace | 1-0 | 1-0 | Selhurst Park |
| 7 | 2018-19 | 24 January | 2019 | League Cup | Tottenham Hotspur | 1-0 | 2-1 | Stamford Bridge |
| 8 | 2018-19 | 22 April | 2019 | Premier League | Burnley | 1-1 | 2-2 | Stamford Bridge |
| 9 | 2019-20 | 22 September | 2019 | Premier League | Liverpool | 1-2 | 1-2 | Stamford Bridge |
| 10 | 2019-20 | 06 October | 2019 | Premier League | Southampton | 3-1 | 4-1 | St Mary's Stadium |
| 11 | 2019-20 | 23 November | 2019 | Premier League | Manchester City | 1-0 | 1-2 | Etihad Stadium |
| 12 | 2021-22 | 19 September | 2021 | Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur | 2-0 | 3-0 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| 13 | 2021-22 | 20 November | 2021 | Premier League | Leicester City | 2-0 | 3-0 | King Power Stadium |
International
Kanté made his debut for the France national team in March 2016 and quickly established himself as a key figure. He was a regular starter during France’s run to the UEFA Euro 2016 final and was an integral part of the squad that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Honours
- Premier League: 2016-17
- FA Cup: 2017-18
- UEFA Europa League: 2018-19
- UEFA Champions League: 2020-21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
